Abstract
This study examines differences between key socio-demographic groups and the impact of strength of social network, political trust, and fear of COVID-19 on working from home (a key social distancing behaviour) and compulsive buying (a maladaptive behaviour) in response to COVID-19. This study used a correlational cross-sectional survey design. A sample of 411 participants in the United Kingdom (UK) completed measures of strength of social network, political trust, fear of COVID-19, length of self-isolation and compulsive buying. Results showed that older people and lower income groups are less likely to work from home in response to COVID-19; that people with a diagnosed mental health disorder exhibited less political trust, more fear of COVID-19, and more compulsive buying; and that people reporting COVID-19 symptomatology had been in self-isolation for longer and exhibited more compulsive buying than those with no COVID-19 symptomatology. The structural equation model showed that age, having a diagnosed mental health disorder, having COVID-19 symptomatology and strength of social network impacted on working from home and compulsive buying, through the mediators of political trust, fear of COVID-19 and length of self-isolation. The results demonstrate that some groups in the UK population may be vulnerable to maladaptive behaviours and poor social, psychological, and physical health outcomes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These groups may require special support to cope effectively with the effects of COVID-19.
Highlights
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease which is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2
This study examines differences between key socio-demographic groups and the impact of strength of social network, political trust, and fear of COVID-19 on working from home and compulsive buying in response to COVID-19
Results showed that older people and lower income groups are less likely to work from home in response to COVID-19; that people with a diagnosed mental health disorder exhibited less political trust, more fear of COVID-19, and more compulsive buying; and that people reporting COVID-19 symptomatology had been in self-isolation for longer and exhibited more compulsive buying than those with no COVID-19 symptomatology
Summary
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease which is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. Compulsive buying may be especially acute in people with pre-existing mental health problems who use it as a coping strategy (Gallagher et al, 2017) It can have negative economic and psychological consequences, such as financial problems and negative affect, including guilt, remorse, and anxiety (Kellett & Bolton, 2009). (4) In line with the vulnerability x stress model (Kellett & Bolton, 2009), it is expected that vulnerabilities like age, having a diagnosed mental health disorder, having COVID-19 symp tomatology and strength of social network impact on working from home and compulsive buying, and that these relationships are mediated by the social psychological variables of political trust, fear of COVID-19 and length of self-isolation Hypotheses (1) There is a negative relationship between age and income and working from home, with older and lower-income groups being less likely to work from home in response to COVID-19. (2) People with a diagnosed mental health disorder exhibit less political trust, more fear of COVID19, and more compulsive buying than those with no diagnosed mental health disorder. (3) In line with research that suggests that perceived COVID-19 symptomatology is a vulnerability factor associated with depressive symptomatology in the context of COVID19 (see Shevlin et al, 2020), it is hypothesised that people reporting COVID-19 symptoma tology have been in self-isolation for longer and exhibit more compulsive buying than those with no symptomatology. (4) In line with the vulnerability x stress model (Kellett & Bolton, 2009), it is expected that vulnerabilities like age, having a diagnosed mental health disorder, having COVID-19 symp tomatology and strength of social network impact on working from home and compulsive buying, and that these relationships are mediated by the social psychological variables of political trust, fear of COVID-19 and length of self-isolation
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