So Far, So Close: Identification with Proximal and Distal Groups as a Resource in Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic

Anna Rita Graziani (), Lucia Botindari, Michela Menegatti and Silvia Moscatelli
Additional contact information
Anna Rita Graziani: Department of Communication and Economics, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Viale Allegri 9, 42121 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Lucia Botindari: SAIS Europe, Johns Hopkins University, Via Andreatta 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Michela Menegatti: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Silvia Moscatelli: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-20

Abstract: A robust body of research has highlighted the fundamental role of social identifications in dealing with emergencies and in predicting commitment behaviors. We report the results of two studies carried out in Italy to assess whether the subjective sense of belonging to meaningful proximal and distal social groups affected people’s ability to cope with the pandemic crisis. Study 1 ( N = 846) shows that different identifications with proximal (i.e., family and friends) and distal social groups (i.e., nation, European, and humankind) may act as buffers for individuals by reducing negative emotions and negative expectations about the future after COVID-19 and by increasing people’s intentions to adhere to containment measures and to be involved in prosocial actions. Study 2 ( N = 350) highlights the role of European identification in predicting propensities for using the tracing app and getting vaccinated. These results confirm the benefits of various types of identification (proximal vs. distant) in helping individuals deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: social identification; proximal groups; distal groups; COVID-19; pandemic; compliance with rules; prosocial behaviors; emotions; vaccination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11231/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/18/11231/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11231-:d:908781

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().