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Abstract: The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo increased citizens’ need to use open public spaces. This paper aims to investigate the importance of open public spaces in social life, and how much citizens in Kosovo used them before and during the pandemic. The study is conducted during the quarantine period (2020), through a questionnaire (N = 549) with the use of the Microsoft Forms online tool, and it involved citizens over 18 years old, from over 58 percent of municipalities from all over Kosovo. The results of the study show that during the quarantine period only 20.5% of citizens frequented public spaces every day, and that citizens mostly used them for recreation (26%), meeting with relatives or friends (31%), sports activities (23%), work and other purposes (20%). However, the fear of COVID-19 and the observance of restrictions on movement meant that 24% of citizens did not use open public spaces. Being in open public spaces gave citizens feelings of satisfaction, curiosity, optimism, and calm, and strengthened their self-confidence. Quarantine significantly increased the awareness of citizens about the lack of open public spaces in their neighbourhoods.
Keywords: COVID-19, public spaces, social life, quarantine, Kosovo
Published in DiRROS: 08.07.2026; Views: 148; Downloads: 128
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Abstract: Public health recommendations and governmental measures during the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have enforced numerous restrictions on daily living including social distancing, isolation, and home confinement. While these measures are imperative to mitigate spreading of COVID-19, the impact of these restrictions on psychosocial health is undefined. Therefore, an international online survey was launched in April 2020 to elucidate the behavioral and lifestyle consequences of COVID-19 restrictions. This report presents the preliminary results from more than one thousand responders on social participation and life satisfaction. Methods: Thirty-five research organizations from Europe, North-Africa, Western Asia, and the Americas promoted the survey through their networks to the general society, in 7 languages (English, German, French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, and Slovenian). Questions were presented in a differential format with questions related to responses "before" and "during" confinement conditions. Results: 1047 participations (54% women) from Asia (36%), Africa (40%), Europe (21%), and others (3%) were included in the analysis. Findings revealed psychosocial strain during the enforced COVID-19 home confinement. Large decreases (p < 0.001) in the amount of social activity through family (%58%), friends/neighbors (%44.9%), or entertainment (%46.7%) were triggered by the enforced confinement. These negative effects on social participation were also associated with lower life satisfaction (%30.5%) during the confinement period. Conversely, the social contact score through digital technologies significantly increased (p < 0.001) during the confinement period with more individuals (+24.8%) being socially connected through digital technology. Conclusion: These preliminary findings elucidate the risk of psychosocial strain during the early COVID-19 home confinement period in 2020. Therefore, in order to mitigate the negative psychosocial effects of home confinement, implementation of national strategies focused on promoting social inclusion through a technology-based solution is strongly suggested.
Keywords: coronavirus, COVID-19, pandemic, public health, restrictions, isolation, home confinement, social participation, life satisfaction
Published in DiRROS: 18.12.2020; Views: 2711; Downloads: 2465
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