TY - JOUR
T1 - Coping mechanisms during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in metropolitan Johannesburg, South Africa
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - Paredes Ruvalcaba, Nerli
AU - Kim, Andrew Wooyoung
AU - Ndaba, Nokubonga
AU - Cele, Lindile
AU - Swana, Someleze
AU - Bosire, Edna
AU - Moolla, Aneesa
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank the participants for sharing their experiences with us for this study. We also thank Michaela Moonsamy, Isabel Venter, Sarah Shiller, and Khayalethu Madonsela for their research assistance. Andrew Wooyoung Kim is supported by the Fogarty International Center and National Institute of Mental Health, of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number D43 TW010543. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. American Journal of Human Biology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused prolonged stress on numerous fronts. While the acute health impacts of psychosocial stress due to the pandemic are well-documented, less is known about the resources and mechanisms utilized to cope in response to stresses during the pandemic and lockdown. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify and describe the coping mechanisms adults utilized in response to the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020 South African lockdown. Methods: This study included adults (n = 47: 32 female; 14 male; 1 non-binary) from the greater Johannesburg region in South Africa. Interviews with both closed and open-ended questions were administered to query topics regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were coded and thematically analyzed to identify coping mechanisms and experiences. Results: Adults engaged in a variety of strategies to cope with the pandemic and the ensued lockdown. The ability to access or engage in multiple coping mechanisms were either enhanced or constrained by financial and familial situations. Participants engaged in seven major coping mechanisms: interactions with family and friends, prayer and religion, staying active, financial resources, mindset reframing, natural remedies, and following COVID-19 prevention protocols. Conclusions: Despite the multiple stressors faced during the pandemic and lockdown, participants relied on multiple coping strategies which helped preserve their well-being and overcome pandemic-related adversity. The strategies participants engaged in were impacted by access to financial resources and family support. Further research is needed to examine the potential impacts these strategies may have on people's health.
AB - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused prolonged stress on numerous fronts. While the acute health impacts of psychosocial stress due to the pandemic are well-documented, less is known about the resources and mechanisms utilized to cope in response to stresses during the pandemic and lockdown. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify and describe the coping mechanisms adults utilized in response to the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020 South African lockdown. Methods: This study included adults (n = 47: 32 female; 14 male; 1 non-binary) from the greater Johannesburg region in South Africa. Interviews with both closed and open-ended questions were administered to query topics regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were coded and thematically analyzed to identify coping mechanisms and experiences. Results: Adults engaged in a variety of strategies to cope with the pandemic and the ensued lockdown. The ability to access or engage in multiple coping mechanisms were either enhanced or constrained by financial and familial situations. Participants engaged in seven major coping mechanisms: interactions with family and friends, prayer and religion, staying active, financial resources, mindset reframing, natural remedies, and following COVID-19 prevention protocols. Conclusions: Despite the multiple stressors faced during the pandemic and lockdown, participants relied on multiple coping strategies which helped preserve their well-being and overcome pandemic-related adversity. The strategies participants engaged in were impacted by access to financial resources and family support. Further research is needed to examine the potential impacts these strategies may have on people's health.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85164578686&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ajhb.23958
DO - 10.1002/ajhb.23958
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85164578686
SN - 1042-0533
JO - American Journal of Human Biology
JF - American Journal of Human Biology
ER -