How do people support each other in emergencies? A qualitative exploration of altruistic and prosocial behaviours during the Covid‐19 pandemic

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21739536
AutoresSelin Tekin (0000-0001-9135-2308, University of Sussex, autor de correspondencia), Monica Sager (Clark University), Audrey Bushey (Clark University), Yawen Deng (0000-0002-0734-037X, Clark University), Özden Melis Uluğ (0000-0001-7364-362X, University of Sussex)
Año2021
Volumen21
Número1
Páginas1113-1140
Fecha de publicación2021-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAnalyses of Social Issues and Public Policy (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1529-7489 • E-ISSN: 1530-2415
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/asap.12277
PMID34899076
OpenAlexW3208344323
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas13
Referencias citadas66

The Ball State University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies in the United States has compiled altruistic stories from different countries such as India, Australia, the United States, and England since the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic. We examined those stories to understand (1) who receives the most support, (2) what type of support is provided, (3) who those supporters are, and (4) why people support each other during the pandemic. Conducting a qualitative content analysis of 104 altruistic stories, we first identified that (a) older individuals , (b) people with sensitive health conditions, and disabilities, (c) frontline workers, and (d) working class and marginalized communities received the primary support. Second, we identified three types of support: (a) material, (b) social/emotional, and (c) psychological. Third, we found that support was coming from (a) different organizations, (b) advantaged groups, and (c) volunteers. Last, (a) sharing a community/humanity identity, (b) allyship, and (c) showing gratitude were the reasons behind altruistic and prosocial behavior. Our findings contribute to the literature by providing some possible reasons and ways that allies have supported disadvantaged communities via sharing the available resources and how showing gratitude can be a reason for altruism and prosocial behavior in a pandemic

Disadvantaged · Globe · Gratitude · Pandemic · Political science · Prosocial behavior · Qualitative research · Social support · Sociology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social Psychology