AUSTIN, Texas, May 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global pandemic
has changed our personalities according to a new study by Oracle.
The representative survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers found that the
circumstances created by COVID-19 have made many people feel
smarter and more open to new experiences, but also more
conscientious and disconnected from their personal
relationships.
Nicer, More Open Personalities Emerge
The global pandemic has changed people's personalities, with
Americans reporting increased conscientiousness, openness to new
experiences, and agreeableness.
- A majority of respondents (86 percent) say they saw a change in
at least one of the five major "OCEAN" personality traits due to
COVID-19.
- Becoming more conscientious (40 percent) and open to new
experiences (38 percent) were the most common personality
changes.
- Despite the stresses of the moment, one-third (33 percent) of
people reported increased agreeableness due to the global
pandemic.
Increased Online Activity and New Hobbies Have Us Feeling
Smarter
More time at home has led to reading, streaming, and
new hobbies, making Americans feel smarter.
- 70 percent of Americans say they have read more and learned
more during the pandemic and feel smarter. By comparison, only 30
percent say the chaos of the pandemic distracted them from
continuing to learn new things.
- A majority (58 percent) say the media source they spend the
most time on is either social media or streaming media.
Comparatively, only 20 percent report spending the most time
watching traditional television.
- 70 percent also started at least one "trendy" hobby during the
pandemic with the three most common hobbies being at-home workouts
(46 percent), baking sourdough bread or banana bread (27 percent),
making whipped coffee (23 percent), and filming TikTok videos (21
percent).
- And while some binge shopped and accrued more belongings (32
percent), 30 percent of individuals decreased the amount of
personal belongings during the pandemic.
Romance and Relationships Redefined
Social distancing
and shelter-in-place measures have taken a significant toll on
romantic relationships, as well as relationships with friends and
family.
- Among the 30 percent of respondents who identified as single,
72 percent say the pandemic altered their romantic outlook in at
least one major way, with 61 percent having spent lockdowns
alone.
- More than a quarter of Americans (27 percent) changed their
relationship status during the pandemic. The most common
relationship change was breakup or divorce (19 percent), while only
nine percent got engaged or married.
-
- Among those who went through a breakup or divorce, only 21
percent were able to dissolve the relationship with an in-person
conversation.
- Midwesterners were the most likely to have an in-person
conversation (35 percent), while the West Coasters were least
likely (just 14 percent). Northeasterners were the most likely
group to use Zoom to break up (19 percent) and Southwesterners were
most likely to end a relationship with ghosting (21 percent).
- One third of Gen Z respondents who had a beak up did so over
text message (32 percent).
- 34 percent of Americans report their relationships with friends
becoming less connected, compared to 15 percent who became closer
with friends. In addition, more than half of Americans (52 percent)
reported making no new friends over the past year.
- More than 70 percent of Americans say their relationships with
family changed, with 22 percent feeling less connected from their
family. However, 30 percent believe the pandemic brought their
family closer together.
Americans Adapt to New Normal, But Are Excited to Get Out
Again
People quickly embraced technology without missing
the old work rituals of commuting or being professionally dressed,
but we do yearn for post-pandemic experiences.
- Sweatsuits and pajamas have become the most popular attire for
Zoom calls for work (38 percent), while 14 percent of Americans say
they've been partially naked on a work Zoom call.
- Four in ten respondents (43 percent) did not miss the commute
to work, business travel (31 percent), or getting dressed or
groomed professionally (30 percent).
- The most popular services or habits formed during the pandemic
included:
-
- Delivery (51 percent)
- Increased spending on groceries instead of restaurants (48
percent)
- Contactless / cashless payments (46 percent)
- Curbside pickup (44 percent)
- Virtual doctor appointments (40 percent)
- 40 percent of Americans are planning to continue using these
services in the future.
- 96 percent of Americans are planning to enjoy at least one
previously restricted activity when it's safe. The most anticipated
activities include indoor dining (74 percent), travel out of state
(72 percent), and concerts (61 percent).
- More than half of people in loyalty programs (54 percent) are
concerned that accrued rewards points will expire.
"We experienced several paradoxes over the last 13 plus months.
We were lonely, yet more connected online. We were bored, yet took
on many new hobbies. We were isolated from in-person learning, yet
still feel smarter," said Nate
Skinner, senior vice president, Oracle Advertising and
Customer Experience (CX). "Our lives were impacted in ways we
couldn't control, and our rapidly changing consumer habits make it
hard for brands to keep up. The experiences of the last year will
continue to have massive implications on our consumption and buying
behavior as we move forward in a post-pandemic era."
Learn more about how these consumer shifts will impact how we
consume goods and services personally and at work here.
Methodology
This sample of 2,000 adults (18 years or
older) in the United States was
surveyed between April 7, 2021 and
April 9, 2021. The margin of error is
2.2% and no post-stratification of results was applied. The sample
was initially collected with even gender distribution and age
distribution that mirrors US consumer demographics. Oracle
conducted and analyzed this survey with a sample procured using the
Pollfish survey delivery platform, which delivers online surveys
globally through mobile apps and the mobile web along with the
desktop web.
About Oracle
Oracle offers suites of integrated
applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle
Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit
us at oracle.com.
Trademarks
Oracle, Java, and MySQL are registered
trademarks of Oracle Corporation.
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SOURCE Oracle