The Coping Mechanism blog released a survey in June 2020 to understand how Britons are coping with lockdown. The survey used established psychological measures of coping well (resilience) and coping in less healthy ways (struggle) that should tell us something about how we as individuals and communities are experiencing the pandemic, how we might be adapting our behaviours and what we need in terms of community support.
1300 people responded to the survey. We looked at coping for the financially secure and the financially insecure. We also looked at coping for 4 ethnic groups; White British, South Asian, Black African, Black Caribbean. The latter having been most impacted by the virus.
Figure 1: Survey Questions looked at experience, resilience and struggle
The experience of lockdown: Change, Trauma and Gratitude
74% of people agree that ‘life has changed a lot as a result of the pandemic’
78% of people agree that they ‘have found ways to manage during the pandemic’
58% of people agree that ‘the pandemic has made existing problems more obvious to me’
69% of respondents are worried about what is to come after the pandemic
43% of people agree that they ‘have struggle a lot through the pandemic’
The most commonly expressed emotions were traumatic: ‘fear’, ‘anxiety’ and ‘worry’
Figure 2: Which 3 emotions have you felt most strongly since the coronavirus pandemic started? (first emotion expressed).
n=602
The most prominent struggles expressed were about uncertainty of income, mental distress, missing contact with close-ones and difficulty in managing the family (home-schooling, caring for family members or concerns about providing for children).
Some experienced agoraphobia, with people fearing going out in case they catch the virus. And cabin-fever was setting-in amongst others who worked from home or were furloughed.
But people also express increased gratitude for life.
Gratitude is expressed as an appreciation of family members, the benefits of slowing down the pace of life, an appreciation of ‘what we have’ and an appreciation of good health.
“The stress and worry of catching the virus whenever I leave the house.”
“I have learnt to slow down and appreciate family and friends more”
Sense of safety
There is low trust in government & mixed feelings about community
The most common reasons given for the spread of the pandemic are ‘Government negligence’ (46% of respondents) and ‘inadequate testing and tracking’ (35% of respondents)
12% of people believe that ‘The pandemic was not an accident. It was planned’
We are least likely to trust in the government's ability to look out for our wellbeing going forward (41% of respondents).
There is moderate trust in our workplaces (55%) and schools (64%) to look out for our wellbeing going forward.
We are most likely to trust that people in our families will look out for our wellbeing going forward (81%)
Figure 3: Reasons for the Spread of Coronavirus
‘In your opinion, which of the following explain the spread of the Coronavirus? Tick as many as apply’
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There are mixed messages about how we view our communities.
60% state that they trust people in their local community to look out for one another’s wellbeing but
‘Selfish members of the public’ is one of the top 4 reasons given for the spread of the virus.
We are likely to say that we feel communities are coming together but
We are also likely to say that communities are becoming more divided
And whilst our perception of how well we personally keep to the rules is high, perception of how well others are keeping to the rules is significantly lower and
Most of us have wanted to remind others of the rules of social distancing
So we are viewing communities as both potentially threatening spaces whilst also experiencing support from them
Figure 4: Sense of trust in institutions, local area and family
‘To what extent would you say you trust the following to look after your wellbeing?’
N=600
“There are different rules for the more elite like Dominic Cummings and some MPs”
“Some rules are very confusing and that adds to my anxiety”
Figure 5: Perception of adherence to rules
‘To what extent would you say the following are true in your experience?’
N=600
“I grafted through it all and I feel we are doomed because people can’t follow simple rules.”
“The community has surprised me, we have all become much better neighbours”
How are we coping?
There is high acceptance of the situation and people are developing self-reliance. But there are also high levels of displacement and scapegoating.
Most people accept that we are in this for the long term (83% of respondents). This is positive because it means the brain is now able to resource itself to cope appropriately with the situation.
We are also learning to deal with uncertainty by ‘taking every day as it comes’ (79% of respondents)
We are developing self-reliance 53% of respondents agree that they are learning that they are strong than they thought and 55% are learning to prioritise their needs above other people’s
And finding new ways to be, 62% are learning there are benefits in not always being busy and 57% say they are finding positive new ways to live their lives
“Enjoyed spending time with my family as we usually bypass each other when all at work”
“I have realised that I am much better off than some people.”
There is some displacement activity with 62% saying they are keeping themselves busy to avoid thinking about the impact of the pandemic
58% are putting more effort into certain relationships but 32% are experiencing difficulty in close relationships
67% are learning that they can count on other people and 63% feel that communities are coming together more
But 47% are worried that we are becoming more divided as a society
And whilst most people think they have kept to the rules (87%) Most also believe that locals haven’t kept to the rules (71%) and a higher proportion of people have or have wanted to remind others of the rules (45%)
So local communities are seen as threatening places and people are looking for targets to blame (scapegoating)
Qualitative comments include blame of the government, ‘selfish people’, ‘certain communities’ and Black Lives Matters protestors. This suggests that racist dog whistles are likely to get pick-up.
“I have struggled with being indoors so much with my husband who isn’t a very good husband ”
“Certain cultures clearly disregard safety guidelines.”