Assessing the Social Support and Resilience of the Inhabitants of Marginalized Communities amid COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran: A Shiraz Metropolis Case Study

Farzaneh Afifian ()
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Farzaneh Afifian: Central Library and Documents Center, Shiraz University

A chapter in Biopolitics and Shock Economy of COVID-19, 2023, pp 201-238 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Background: Marginalized communities were extremely vulnerable to health, social, psychological, and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between resilience and provided social support for the case study of marginalized communities during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methodology: This study was conducted by survey method. The study population belonged to the inhabitants of the suburbs of Shiraz (Iran) (n = 374,000 people), of whom 400 people were selected from different neighborhoods by proportional cluster sampling. In order to collect data, a 67-item researcher-made questionnaire was used. Major Findings: Results showed that among the dimensions of social support, emotional and informational support was above moderate and material support was at a moderate level. Therefore, it can be assumed that the material support was insufficient to increase people’s resilience. Therefore, it is necessary to make interventions to improve the situation. Measures to be taken to increase the level of social support in its various dimensions will strengthen and complement each other and will directly or indirectly increase the resilience of marginalized communities. With regard to information support, steps should be taken to increase people’s awareness, besides a step to strengthen their self-worth through necessary training and increase in awareness, which will in turn raise the level of emotional support. Therefore, people can strengthen the capability for making decisions, solving problems, and establishing effective relationships, as well as the ability for self-awareness, empathy, and coping with emotions and stress, to be able to successfully do away with this crisis. Implications: Resilience can be increased through social support interventions. Strengthening the social support of the inhabitants of the marginalized areas as a method to increase their resilience seems to be an important strategy in controlling the pandemic. Value: Assessing the social support and resilience of the inhabitants of marginalized communities amid the COVID-19 pandemic allows us to design more targeted support programs for them during confrontation and virus infections.

Keywords: Coronavirus; COVID-19; Iran; Marginalized communities; Pandemics; Resilience; Social support (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:conchp:978-3-031-27886-0_8

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27886-0_8

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