Solidarity and reciprocity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative interview study from Germany
Abstract Background While solidarity practices were important in mitigating the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, their limits became evident as the pandemic progressed. Taking a longitudinal approach, this study analyses German residents’ changing perceptions of solidarity practices dur...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17521-7 |
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| author | Franziska B. Schönweitz Bettina M. Zimmermann Nora Hangel Amelia Fiske Stuart McLennan Anna Sierawska Alena Buyx |
| author_facet | Franziska B. Schönweitz Bettina M. Zimmermann Nora Hangel Amelia Fiske Stuart McLennan Anna Sierawska Alena Buyx |
| author_sort | Franziska B. Schönweitz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background While solidarity practices were important in mitigating the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, their limits became evident as the pandemic progressed. Taking a longitudinal approach, this study analyses German residents’ changing perceptions of solidarity practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and examines potential reasons for these changes. Methods Adults living in Germany were interviewed in April 2020 (n = 46), October 2020 (n = 43) and October 2021 (n = 40) as part of the SolPan Research Commons, a large-scale, international, qualitative, longitudinal study uniquely situated in a major global public health crisis. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results While solidarity practices were prominently discussed and positively evaluated in April 2020, this initial enthusiasm waned in October 2020 and October 2021. Yet, participants still perceived solidarity as important for managing the pandemic and called for institutionalized forms of solidarity in October 2020 and October 2021. Reasons for these changing perceptions of solidarity included (i) increasing personal and societal costs to act in solidarity, (ii) COVID-19 policies hindering solidarity practices, and (iii) a perceived lack of reciprocity as participants felt that solidarity practices from the state were not matching their individual efforts. Conclusions Maintaining solidarity contributes to maximizing public health during a pandemic. Institutionalized forms of solidarity to support those most in need contribute to perceived reciprocity among individuals, which might increase their motivation to act in solidarity. Thus, rather than calling for individual solidarity during times of crisis, authorities should consider implementing sustaining solidarity-based social support systems that go beyond immediate crisis management. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:12:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd5006f873604d86a6d0953effe5a849 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:12:56Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd5006f873604d86a6d0953effe5a8492024-01-07T12:51:48ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-01-0124111410.1186/s12889-023-17521-7Solidarity and reciprocity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative interview study from GermanyFranziska B. Schönweitz0Bettina M. Zimmermann1Nora Hangel2Amelia Fiske3Stuart McLennan4Anna Sierawska5Alena Buyx6Institute of History and Ethics in Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, TUM School of Medicine and Health, TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of MunichInstitute of History and Ethics in Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, TUM School of Medicine and Health, TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of MunichInstitute of History and Ethics in Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, TUM School of Medicine and Health, TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of MunichInstitute of History and Ethics in Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, TUM School of Medicine and Health, TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of MunichInstitute of History and Ethics in Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, TUM School of Medicine and Health, TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of MunichInstitute of History and Ethics in Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, TUM School of Medicine and Health, TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of MunichInstitute of History and Ethics in Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, TUM School of Medicine and Health, TUM School of Social Sciences and Technology, Technical University of MunichAbstract Background While solidarity practices were important in mitigating the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, their limits became evident as the pandemic progressed. Taking a longitudinal approach, this study analyses German residents’ changing perceptions of solidarity practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and examines potential reasons for these changes. Methods Adults living in Germany were interviewed in April 2020 (n = 46), October 2020 (n = 43) and October 2021 (n = 40) as part of the SolPan Research Commons, a large-scale, international, qualitative, longitudinal study uniquely situated in a major global public health crisis. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results While solidarity practices were prominently discussed and positively evaluated in April 2020, this initial enthusiasm waned in October 2020 and October 2021. Yet, participants still perceived solidarity as important for managing the pandemic and called for institutionalized forms of solidarity in October 2020 and October 2021. Reasons for these changing perceptions of solidarity included (i) increasing personal and societal costs to act in solidarity, (ii) COVID-19 policies hindering solidarity practices, and (iii) a perceived lack of reciprocity as participants felt that solidarity practices from the state were not matching their individual efforts. Conclusions Maintaining solidarity contributes to maximizing public health during a pandemic. Institutionalized forms of solidarity to support those most in need contribute to perceived reciprocity among individuals, which might increase their motivation to act in solidarity. Thus, rather than calling for individual solidarity during times of crisis, authorities should consider implementing sustaining solidarity-based social support systems that go beyond immediate crisis management.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17521-7Social cohesionEthicsSARS-Coronavirus-2SolidarityReciprocity |
| spellingShingle | Franziska B. Schönweitz Bettina M. Zimmermann Nora Hangel Amelia Fiske Stuart McLennan Anna Sierawska Alena Buyx Solidarity and reciprocity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative interview study from Germany BMC Public Health Social cohesion Ethics SARS-Coronavirus-2 Solidarity Reciprocity |
| title | Solidarity and reciprocity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative interview study from Germany |
| title_full | Solidarity and reciprocity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative interview study from Germany |
| title_fullStr | Solidarity and reciprocity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative interview study from Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solidarity and reciprocity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative interview study from Germany |
| title_short | Solidarity and reciprocity during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative interview study from Germany |
| title_sort | solidarity and reciprocity during the covid 19 pandemic a longitudinal qualitative interview study from germany |
| topic | Social cohesion Ethics SARS-Coronavirus-2 Solidarity Reciprocity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17521-7 |
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