Patterns of close contact networks among the Hungarian working-age adult population during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

In the present study, we applied a new name generator question to map the most important adult relationships of individuals. This network is expected to be broader than the core discussion networks that have been investigated several times before. We describe the egocentric networks that emerge as well as their variation across sociodemographic groups, and the changes in the mode, frequency, and quality of relationships before the Covid-19-pandemic and in 2021 as reflected by the personal experience of the respondents. The analysis uses the dataset of the research project entitled The social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The data was collected online between 29 November 2021 and 11 December 2021 using a quota method among the Hungarian population aged 18-65 with internet access, with a sample size of 1000. The quota was defined by age, gender, type of municipality and educational attainment based on the population data provided by the KSH.

4.6% (95% CI 3.3–5.9%) of respondents were completely isolated, and respondents named an average of 5.5 (IQR=2–8) persons important to them. The dominance of close family ties is very strong. Based on participant recall, the proportion of personal contacts dropped significantly during the quarantine periods, with the quality of the contacts remaining largely unchanged or deteriorating.