New research published in Scientific Reports has found that daily experiences of awe may be linked to reduced feelings of loneliness, particularly during periods of social isolation such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The study focused on healthcare workers and community adults, examining whether moments of awe could serve as a buffer against loneliness by increasing feelings of connection beyond oneself.
During the early months of the pandemic in 2020, many healthcare workers reported high levels of stress and loneliness. According to previous surveys, between 75% and 93% experienced distress such as anxiety or exhaustion, and over half reported feeling lonely. Loneliness has been associated with negative health outcomes including depression, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and substance misuse.
The researchers recruited healthcare professionals from Northern California centers and other institutions across the United States, as well as community participants through NorthBay Healthcare system and public outreach. All procedures were approved by the NorthBay Healthcare Institutional Review Board (IRB), and informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Participants first completed a baseline survey assessing their loneliness using a shortened version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale along with demographic information and health status. After an online orientation session, they filled out daily diary surveys for 22 consecutive days in June 2020. Each day’s survey asked about their experiences of awe, loneliness, connectedness to nature or their environment, and other positive emotions like gratitude or love.
Analysis showed that on days when healthcare workers felt more awe than usual—such as through encounters with nature or meaningful events—they also reported less loneliness on those same days. This pattern held even after controlling for factors like age, gender, baseline emotional states, time effects, and other positive emotions.
Community participants showed similar results: higher daily awe was linked to lower same-day loneliness regardless of general positivity. The findings indicate these associations reflect short-term changes rather than long-term effects or causation.
Researchers also examined whether feeling connected to nature mediated this relationship. On days when individuals experienced greater awe, they reported stronger connections to their environment. This increased sense of connectedness partially explained why awe was related to lower loneliness; however, it did not account for the entire effect.
The study’s authors note that while effect sizes were small, results were consistent across both groups during a period marked by widespread social isolation. They caution that the observational design means causal relationships cannot be confirmed; it is possible that people who feel less lonely are more open to experiencing awe.
The research relied on single-item measures for connectedness limited to nature-related feelings rather than broader social belonging. It also did not test whether deliberately inducing awe would reduce loneliness over time or improve mental health outcomes.
Overall, the findings suggest that self-transcendent emotions like awe may help alleviate feelings of loneliness by fostering a sense of connection with one’s surroundings. Further experimental studies are needed to determine if cultivating such experiences can lead to sustained improvements in mental well-being.
