Time dilation, or has our perception of time slowed down?

According to a report in the journal Science Advances, the Covid-19 pandemic appears to have changed the way people perceive the passage of time.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed people's perception of time.

Specifically, 65% of the study participants said they felt that time passed more slowly. This perception is what the researchers call "time dilation," and they have found that it is linked to feelings of isolation, or lack of pleasurable activities, during that time.

In the opposite direction, 75% said they do not face much pressure on time. It is a feeling that time is passing faster than it really is, because they have to spend less time on daily activities and entertainment.

"Time dilation has occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, and it makes us question whether our perception (of time) is forever changed," Prof. Andre Cravo, the study's author.

"Time slows down" for most young people in the early stages of the pandemic.

Reportedly, the aforementioned study had a total of 3,855 participants, most of which were recruited through social networks. These people will answer 10-item online questionnaires, which test their ability to estimate time. They were also asked about their daily activities, as well as how they are feeling right now.

Using a time perception scale from 0 to 100 to assess the standard, the researchers analyzed the responses and calculated two parameters, including extension time and time pressure, to see whether they tend to increase or decrease.

As a result, during the period when the participants reported feeling lonely and less exposed to positive influences, they felt time pass more slowly.

In contrast, in highly stressful situations, they felt that time passed faster.

Perception also often changes when we recall past situations.

The report also found that "time slows down" for most young people during the early stages of the pandemic, when compliance with social distancing rules became strict. Except for age, demographic factors such as household size, occupation, gender. do not seem to significantly influence the results.

According to GS.Cravo, evidence from the scientific literature shows that the feeling that time passes more slowly or faster is influenced mainly by two factors, including: Relevance of time in a particular context possibility, unpredictability.

"For example, if you're late for work and can't wait to wait for the bus (representing an unpredictable amount of time), you will have an "extreme" perception that time seems to slow down, or even even stopped completely", GS.Cravo explained. "On the contrary when you are on vacation and having fun, time seems to go by very quickly."

Perception also often changes when we recall past situations. "When you remember what you did on vacation, time seems to last longer (than it felt in the past.) On the contrary, when you are in line, time feels slow, but when We remember this situation, feeling as if it ended so quickly."