Social alignment matters: Following pandemic guidelines is associated with better wellbeing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, most countries implemented physical distancing measures. Many mental health experts warned that through increasing social isolation and anxiety, these measures could negatively affect psychosocial wellbeing. However, socially aligning with others by adhering to these measures may also be beneficial for wellbeing.

Methods

We examined these two contrasting hypotheses using cross-national survey data (N = 6675) collected fortnightly from participants in 115 countries over 3 months at the beginning of the pandemic. Participants reported their wellbeing, perceptions of how vulnerable they were to Covid-19 (i.e., high risk of infection) and how much they, and others in their social circle and country, were adhering to the distancing

SUBMITTER: Tuncgenc B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9060841 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature