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Collectively coping with coronavirus: local community identification predicts giving support and lockdown adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Version 2 2023-06-12, 09:48
Version 1 2023-06-09, 23:36
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 09:48 authored by Clifford Stevenson, Juliet R H Wakefield, Isabelle Felsner, John DruryJohn Drury, Sebastiano Costa
The role of shared identity in predicting both ingroup helping behaviour and adherence to protective norms during COVID-19 has been extensively theorized, but remains largely under-investigated. We build upon previous Social Identity research into community resilience by testing the role of pre-existing local community (or ‘neighbourhood’) identity as a predictor of these outcomes, via the mediator of perceived social support. Community residents in the UK completed a longitudinal online survey four months before lockdown (T1; N = 253), one month before lockdown (T2; N = 217), and two months into lockdown (T3; N = 149). The cross-lagged panel analysis shows that T1 community identification predicts T3 giving and receiving of pandemic-related support, and that these effects occur via the perception of community support at the second time point (while the alternative pathway from T1 support via T2 identification is non-significant). Moreover, we show that T1 community identification also directly predicts lockdown adherence at T3. Our findings point to the pivotal role played by community identity in effective behavioural responses to the pandemic, and the need to support and foster community development to facilitate local community resilience as the crisis continues to unfold.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

British Journal of Social Psychology

ISSN

0144-6665

Publisher

Wiley

Page range

1-16

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2021-04-15

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2021-05-11

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2021-04-15

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