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Can Events Impact on Social Connectedness and Loneliness? An Analysis of Face-To-Face and Virtual Events Attended in South Australia

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Festivals and events can be a platform for interactions and social connections. More recently, events have been linked to social well-being, assisting in reducing loneliness and increasing social connectedness. However, with the emergence of COVID-19, event attendance has been altered as people have been restricted from attending face-to-face events and virtual events have become a popular mode of events. This study, therefore, aims to examine whether the frequency and mode (face-to-face and virtual) of event attendance influence attendees’ feelings of loneliness and social connections. The survey results reveal the significant relationship between face-to-face event attendance and social connectedness. In contrast, the frequency of virtual event attendance was not found to have a significant effect on social connectedness or loneliness. The type of face-to-face and virtual events attended was also reported in the study, providing us with some understanding of event attendance amongst changing times.

Keywords: EVENTS; FESTIVALS; LONELINESS; SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS; WELL-BEING

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 2: University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia

Publication date: 27 October 2023

This article was made available online on 19 July 2023 as a Fast Track article with title: "Can events impact on social connectedness and loneliness? An analysis of face-to-face and virtual events attended in South Australia".

More about this publication?
  • Event Management, an International Journal, intends to meet the research and analytic needs of a rapidly growing profession focused on events. This field has developed in size and impact globally to become a major business with numerous dedicated facilities, and a large-scale generator of tourism. The field encompasses meetings, conventions, festivals, expositions, sport and other special events. Event management is also of considerable importance to government agencies and not-for-profit organizations in a pursuit of a variety of goals, including fund-raising, the fostering of causes, and community development.
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