Coping of Chinese Citizens Living in Spain during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for Personal Well-Being and Social Cohesion

Mengna Guo, Mar Joanpere, Cristina Pulido and Maria Padrós Cuxart
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Mengna Guo: Department of Sociology, University of Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
Mar Joanpere: Department of Business Management, University Rovira i Virgili, 43002 Reus, Spain
Cristina Pulido: Department of Journalism and Communications Studies, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
Maria Padrós Cuxart: Department of Didactics and Educational Organization, University of Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: Chinese citizens in China were the first affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Nevertheless, the disease rapidly spread around the world, leading to the worst pandemic experienced in modern societies. Spain has become one of the countries more severely affected by it, while having a large Chinese community. This study aims to explore the perception of Chinese citizens living in Spain regarding the outbreak in their host country. Communicative interviews were conducted with ten Chinese men and women who had been living in Spain for at least five years. Results show cultural differences in the coping strategies of the Chinese as a response to the pandemic, which differ from those observed by the participants in their fellow Spanish citizens. These findings unveil the potential of integrating the cultural knowledge and coping strategies of migrant groups in the host communities in managing a pandemic, as well as the negative outcomes for social cohesion and well-being from new racism emerging in the context of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; coping strategies; well-being; cultural knowledge (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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