Community cohesion during the first peak of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A social antidote to health anxiety and stress

• Published in: Journal of Applied Social Psychology 2021-08, Vol.51 (8), p.793-808
• Main Authors: Svensson, Sarah Jane, Elntib, Stamatis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; COVID-19; Health; Original; Pandemics; Psychological distress; Social support; Stress; Structural equation modeling
• ISSN: 0021-9029; 1559-1816
• DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12800

Social support gained through community ties has been pivotal in dealing with stressful events. A cross‐sectional community sample (N = 2,329) was gathered to assess community cohesion buffering against heath anxiety and perceived stress during the first peak of the pandemic in the UK, using structural equation modeling analyses. Community cohesion acted as a protective mechanism against both health anxiety and stress during the first national lockdown. A strong positive association was also found between health anxiety and stress. Stress and health anxiety scores peaked in the first weeks of the imposed quarantine; as the lockdown was extended, participants reported lower stress, health anxiety and community cohesion scores. The reduction of community cohesion scores was greater for those younger than 45 while the positive association between stress and health anxiety was stronger among males during the lockdown. While community cohesion effects against health anxiety were enhanced for females, community's buffering against stress were greater for males. Strengthening citizens' psychological sense of community through the publicization and support of local initiatives and mutual‐aid groups and utilizing methodically green (and blue) spaces to boost neighborhood attraction might be viable strategies within which stress and health anxiety can be suppressed. Conversely, allowing community, regional and national cracks to deepen can exacerbate the impact of stressful events experienced during the COVID‐19 pandemic.