Whole sample

(N = 302)

Before COVID-19 lockdown (n = 116)

During COVID-19 lockdown (n = 186)

Differences

M (SD)

Mdn

S-W

M (SD)

Mdn

S-W

M (SD)

Mdn

S-W

z

p

d

Anticipatory farewell to existence

Permanence

2.69 (0.77)

2.6

0.002

2.71 (0.76)

2.6

n.s.

2.67 (0.78)

2.8

0.001

0.007

n.s.

0.04

Metaphysical rise

2.48 (0.80)

2.4

0.023

2.33 (0.80)

2.4

0.045

2.57 (0.79)

2.6

n.s.

2.45

0.014

0.30

D I: Self-transcendence

2.58 (0.64)

2.6

n.s.

2.51 (0.67)

2.5

n.s.

2.62 (0.61)

2.6

0.004

1.72

n.s.

0.18

Conclusion

3.11 (1.99)

3.2

<0.001

3.04 (0.68)

3.0

0.001

3.16 (0.59)

3.2

0.006

1.37

n.s.

0.20

Farewell

1.99 (0.57)

2.0

n.s.

2.02 (0.57)

2.0

n.s.

1.97 (0.57)

2.0

n.s.

0.37

n.s.

0.09

D II: The expiration of own existence time

2.55 (0.52)

2.6

0.039

2.53 (0.54)

2.6

n.s.

2.56 (0.50)

2.6

n.s.

0.56

n.s.

0.07

Bequest

3.20 (0.56)

3.2

<0.001

3.13 (0.58)

3.2

<0.001

3.25 (0.55)

3.4

<0.001

1.98

0.047

0.22

Charity

2.73 (0.61)

2.8

n.s.

2.68 (0.57)

2.6

n.s.

2.76 (0.64)

2.8

n.s.

1.44

n.s.

0.13

D III: Altruistic preoccupation

2.97 (0.50)

3.0

<0.001

2.90 (0.49)

2.9

n.s.

3.01 (0.50)

3.1

<0.001

2.13

0.032

0.21

Fulfilment of existence

3.04 (0.66)

3.2

<0.001

2.99 (0.67)

3.0

<0.001

3.07 (0.64)

3.2

<0.001

1.08

n.s.

0.11

Harmony

2.90 (0.70)

3.0

<0.001

2.90 (0.71)

3.0

<0.001

2.95 (0.66)

3.0

<0.001

1.05

n.s.

0.11

D IV: Reconciliation with own existence

3.00 (0.64)

3.1

<0.001

2.95 (0.66)

3.1

<0.001

3.03 (0.62)

3.1

<0.001

1.17

n.s.

0.12

Resistance

2.22 (0.55)

2.2

n.s.

2.22 (0.50)

2.2

n.s.

2.21 (0.58)

2.2

n.s.

0.50

n.s.

0.01

Acceptance

2.60 (0.64)

2.6

n.s.

2.57 (0.67)

2.6

n.s.

2.62 (0.62)

2.6

0.031

0.31

n.s.

0.07

D V: Struggle for acceptance

2.42 (0.45)

2.4

0.004

2.41 (0.48)

2.4

n.s.

2.42 (0.43)

2.4

0.002

0.10

n.s.

0.01

Life attitudes profile—revised

Life purpose

4.07 (0.93)

4.1

<0.001

3.98 (0.90)

4.1

<0.001

4.13 (0.94)

4.2

<0.001

1.65

n.s.

0.17

Coherence

3.67 (1.09)

3.7

0.024

3.50 (0.97)

3.5

n.s.

3.78 (1.14)

3.8

0.004

2.70

0.007

0.26

Choice/Responsibleness

3.81 (0.94)

3.9

0.019

3.91 (0.87)

4.0

n.s.

3.76 (0.98)

3.7

0.017

0.95

n.s.

0.15

Death acceptance

3.71 (1.10)

3.7

n.s.

3.47 (1.18)

3.6

n.s.

3.86 (1.02)

3.8

n.s.

2.91

0.003

0.13

Existential vacuum

2.43 (0.95)

2.4

<0.001

2.52 (0.96)

2.4

0.001

2.38 (0.94)

2.4

0.009

1.08

n.s.

0.15

Goal seeking

3.46 (0.97)

3.4

n.s.

3.38 (0.98)

3.4

n.s.

3.51 (0.96)

3.5

n.s.

1.07

n.s.

0.13

Personal meaning index

7.75 (1.86)

7.9

<0.001

7.47 (3.51)

7.6

0.005

7.91 (1.91)

8.1

0.002

2.34

0.019

0.24

Existential transcendence

9.37 (3.59)

9.6

0.015

8.94 (3.51)

9.3

n.s.

9.64 (3.62)

10.0

n.s.

1.78

n.s.

0.19