Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T17:27:57.924Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 24 - Facilitating the Public Response to COVID-19

Group Processes and Mutual Aid

from Section 3 - The Role of the Public in Emergencies: Survivors, Bystanders, and Volunteers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2024

By
John Drury ,
Evangelos Ntontis ,
Maria Fernandes-Jesus  and
Guanlan Mao
Edited by
Richard Williams ,
Verity Kemp ,
Keith Porter ,
Tim Healing  and
John Drury
Richard Williams
Affiliation:
University of South Wales
Verity Kemp
Affiliation:
Independent Health Emergency Planning Consultant
Keith Porter
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham
Tim Healing
Affiliation:
Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London
John Drury
Affiliation:
University of Sussex
Get access

Summary

This chapter seeks to understand the psychological facilitators of active community engagement with the public health response to successful responses to disease outbreaks. It summarises research on the key psychological predictors of engagement in protective behaviours in the COVID-19 pandemic, it describes how mutual aid groups have helped people to shield and self-isolate during the pandemic, and it summarises research on the factors that have sustained these groups over time. It draws out the general principles and the policy and practice implications that emerge from the research on this topic. The focus is largely on evidence from the UK, although many of the points covered in this chapter apply equally to the situation in other countries.

Keywords

mutual aidpandemicprotective behaviourspublic engagementsocial identity
Type
Chapter
Information
Major Incidents, Pandemics and Mental Health
The Psychosocial Aspects of Health Emergencies, Incidents, Disasters and Disease Outbreaks
 , pp. 166 - 172
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Costello, A. A Social Vaccine for Ebola. A Lesson for the Democratic Republic of Congo. Anthony Costello, 2018 (www.anthonycostello.net/2018/05/20/a-social-vaccine-for-ebola-a-lesson-for-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/).Google Scholar
Independent, SAGE. Maintaining Adherence to Protective Behaviours During Vaccination Roll-Out. Independent SAGE, 2021 (www.independentsage.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Adverse-behavioural-effects-of-vaccines-7.1.pdf).Google Scholar
Public Health England. Finding the Evidence: Coronavirus. Public Health England, 2021 (https://phelibrary.koha-ptfs.co.uk/coronavirusinformation/).Google Scholar
World Health Organization (WHO). COVID-19 Press Conference. WHO, 2020 (www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/transcripts/who-audio-emergencies-coronavirus-press-conference-full-20mar2020.pdf?sfvrsn=1eafbff_0).Google Scholar
British Psychological Society. Behavioural Science and Disease Prevention: Psychological Guidance for Optimising Policies and Communication. British Psychological Society, 2020 (www.bps.org.uk/coronavirus-resources/professional/behavioural-science-disease-prevention-psychological-guidance).Google Scholar
Folmer, RC, Kuiper, ME, Olthuis, E, Kooistra, EB, de Bruijn, AL, Brownlee, M, et al. Maintaining Compliance When the Virus Returns: Understanding Adherence to Social Distancing Measures in the Netherlands in July 2020. PsyArXiv, 2020 (https://psyarxiv.com/vx3mn/).Google Scholar
Clark, C, Davila, A, Regis, M, Kraus, S. Predictors of COVID-19 voluntary compliance behaviors: an international investigation. Glob Transit 2020; 2: 76–82.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Bavel, JJ, Cichocka, A, Capraro, V, Sjåstad, H, Nezlek, JB, Alfano, M, et al. National Identity Predicts Public Health Support during a Global Pandemic: Results from 67 Nations. PsyArXiv, 2020 (https://psyarxiv.com/ydt95/).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vignoles, VL, Jaser, Z, Taylor, Z, Ntontis, E. Harnessing shared identities to mobilize resilient responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Polit Psychol 2021; 42: 817–26.Google Scholar
Liekefett, L, Becker, J. Compliance with governmental restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic: a matter of personal self‐protection or solidarity with people in risk groups? Br J Soc Psychol 2021; 60: 924–46.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pfattheicher, S, Nockur, L, Böhm, R, Sassenrath, C, Petersen, MB. The emotional path to action: empathy promotes physical distancing and wearing of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychol Sci 2020; 31: 1363–73.Google Scholar
Nivette, A, Ribeaud, D, Murray, A, Steinhoff, A, Bechtiger, L, Hepp, U, et al. Non-compliance with COVID-19-related public health measures among young adults in Switzerland: insights from a longitudinal cohort study. Soc Sci Med 2021; 268: 113370.Google Scholar
Van Lissa, CJ, Stroebe, W, van Dellen, M, Leander, P, Agostini, M, Gutzkow, B, et al. Early Indicators of COVID-19 Infection Prevention Behaviors: Machine Learning Identifies Personal and Country-Level Factors. PsyArXiv, 2020 (https://psyarxiv.com/whjsb/).Google Scholar
Tuncgenc, B, El Zein, M, Sulik, J, Newson, M, Zhao, Y, Dezecache, G, et al. Social influence matters: we follow pandemic guidelines most when our close circle does. Br J Psychol 2021; 112: 763–80.Google Scholar
Office for National Statistics. Coronavirus and the Social Impacts on Great Britain: 30 April 2021. Office for National Statistics, 2021 (www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/bulletins/coronavirusandthesocialimpactsongreatbritain/30april2021#main-indicators).Google Scholar
Drury, J. Mitigating the New Variant SARS-CoV-2 Virus: How to Support Public Adherence to Physical Distancing. Crowds and Identities, 2020 (https://blogs.sussex.ac.uk/crowdsidentities/2020/12/27/mitigating-the-new-variant-sars-cov-2-virus-how-to-support-public-adherence-to-physical-distancing/).Google Scholar
Smith, LE, Potts, HWW, Amlôt, R, Fear, NT, Michie, S, Rubin, GJ. Adherence to the test, trace, and isolate system in the UK: results from 37 nationally representative surveys. BMJ 2021; 372: n608.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patel, J, Fernandes, G, Sridhar, D. How can we improve self-isolation and quarantine for covid-19? BMJ 2021; 372: n625.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butler, P. A million volunteer to help NHS and others during Covid-19 outbreak. The Guardian, 13 April 2020 (www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/13/a-million-volunteer-to-help-nhs-and-others-during-covid-19-lockdown).Google Scholar
Office for National Statistics. Executive Summary: Community Life COVID-19 Re-Contact Survey 2020. Office for National Statistics, 2020 (www.gov.uk/government/statistics/community-life-covid-19-re-contact-survey-2020-main-report/executive-summary-community-life-recontact-survey-2020).Google Scholar
Office for National Statistics. Coronavirus and the Social Impacts on Great Britain: 7 May 2020. Office for National Statistics, 2020 (www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/bulletins/coronavirusandthesocialimpactsongreatbritain/7may2020#how-relationships-are-changing-and-community-support-networks).Google Scholar
Solnit, R. ‘The way we get through this is together’: the rise of mutual aid under coronavirus. The Guardian, 14 May 2020 (www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/14/mutual-aid-coronavirus-pandemic-rebecca-solnit).Google Scholar
Booth, R. Community aid groups set up across UK amid coronavirus crisis. The Guardian, 16 March 2020 (www.theguardian.com/society/2020/mar/16/community-aid-groups-set-up-across-uk-amid-coronavirus-crisis).Google Scholar
Tiratelli, L, Kaye, S. Communities vs. Coronavirus: The Rise of Mutual Aid. New Local, 2020 (www.newlocal.org.uk/publications/communities-vs-coronavirus-the-rise-of-mutual-aid/).Google Scholar
Mao, G, Fernandes-Jesus, M, Ntontis, E, Drury, J. What have we learned about COVID-19 volunteering in the UK? A rapid review of the literature. BMC Public Health 2021; 21: 1470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fritz, CE. Disasters and Mental Health: Therapeutic Principles Drawn from Disaster Studies. Disaster Research Center, 1961 (http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/1325).Google Scholar
Kaniasty, K, Norris, FH. The experience of disaster: individuals and communities sharing trauma. In Response to Disaster: Psychosocial, Community, and Ecological Approaches (eds Gist, R, Lubin, B): 25–61. Brunner/Maze, 1999.Google Scholar
McCabe, A, Wilson, M, Paine, AE. Stepping Up and Helping Out: Grassroots Volunteering in Response to COVID-19. Local Trust, 2020.Google Scholar
Haslam, C, Jetten, J, Cruwys, T, Dingle, GA, Haslam, SA. The New Psychology of Health: Unlocking the Social Cure. Routledge, 2018.Google Scholar
Mao, G, Drury, J, Fernandes-Jesus, M, Ntontis, E. How participation in Covid-19 mutual aid groups affects subjective well-being and how political identity moderates these effects. Anal Soc Issues Public Policy 2021; 21: 1082–112.Google Scholar
Gray, D, Stevenson, C. How can ‘we’ help? Exploring the role of shared social identity in the experiences and benefits of volunteering. J Community Appl Soc Psychol 2020; 30: 341–53.Google Scholar
Wakefield, J, Bowe, M, Kellezi, B. Who helps and why? A longitudinal exploration of volunteer role identity, between-group closeness, and community identification as predictors of coordinated helping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Br J Soc Psychol 2022; 61: 907–23.Google Scholar
Bowe, M, Wakefield, J, Kellezi, B, Stevenson, C, McNamara, N, Jones, B, et al. The mental health benefits of community helping during crisis: coordinated helping, community identification and sense of unity during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Community Appl Soc Psychol 2022; 32: 521–35.Google Scholar
Stevenson, C, Wakefield, JRH, Felsner, I, Drury, J, Costa, S. Collectively coping with coronavirus: local community identification predicts giving support and lockdown adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Br J Soc Psychol 2021; 60: 1403–18.Google Scholar
Robin, C, Symons, C, Carter, H. Rapid thematic analysis of community social and online media in response to mass asymptomatic COVID-19 testing in Liverpool, England. [Preprint] 2021. Available from: www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-370851/v1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greater London Authority (GLA). The Experience of Mutual Aid in London. GLA, 2020 (https://data.gov.uk/dataset/b8adb6dd-7408-4821-a38e-5b27bdba9b21/the-experience-of-mutual-aid-in-london).Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×