Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: Since Cohen and Wills published their hypothesis the model has been tested and supported in several contexts, including with individuals going through cancer treatment (Gremore et al. 2011).The main take away is that if you have active relationships where you feel supported, you are shielded from the impact of stress.COVID-19 has taken away the daily routines through which we interact with our social support networks, or friends and family.Social networks are active and dynamic.When we encounter stress, very few people sit down and make a list of who can provide what support.We go to people and drink tea or they come to us and we have dinner and wine.We laugh and cry with our friends.It is in the social process that support is perceived before being actualised.Living in a context of increased stress during the isolation of COVID-19 highlights this for me.It raises some important considerations as I think about my mom at the societal level.How does society respond to increased levels and length of isolation from the regular, mundane, social interactions that we are used to engaging with?Can online chats replace a hand being held by a friend during crisis?The physiological impact of stress on my own body is telling.Reflecting on the past month, I see that the only major change is that I cannot physically access my support network.Through this reflection I see the most important impacts of the virus on society as more than the biological reactions.We must consider who is impacted by the loss of each other.
Source: Social Anthropology
Author: James McMurray
Institution: University of Sussex
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,000
OpenAlex ID: W3036065611