Fear, social isolation and compulsive buying in response to COVID-19 in a religiously diverse UK sample

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Jaspal, R. ORCID: 0000-0002-8463-9519, Lopes, B. and Lopes, P., 2020. Fear, social isolation and compulsive buying in response to COVID-19 in a religiously diverse UK sample. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 23 (5), pp. 427-442. ISSN 1367-4676

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2020.1784119

Abstract

This study examines differences between Christians, Muslims and non-religious people on three key psychological variables in relation to COVID-19: fear, social isolation, and compulsive buying. A representative sample of 411 participants in the United Kingdom (UK) completed a survey consisting of measures of political trust, social isolation, compulsive buying behaviours, fear of COVID-19 and their preferred source of information regarding COVID-19. Independent samples t-tests showed that both Christians reported a stronger social network, more political trust but more fear of COVID-19 than non-religious people, and that Muslims reported more fear of COVID-19 and more compulsive buying than non-religious people. Non-religious people accessed more varied sources of information regarding COVID-19 than Christians and Muslims. Finally, source of information regarding COVID-19 had an impact on levels of political trust, fear of COVID-19, social isolation and compulsive buying behaviours. The results suggest that religious groups in the UK vary in the extent to which they experience fear, social isolation and compulsive buying in relation to the pandemic. Public health messaging and awareness-raising campaigns tailored to particular religious groups may be effective in reducing the psychological burden of COVID-19 in the UK.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Mental Health, Religion & Culture

Creators:

Jaspal, R., Lopes, B. and Lopes, P.

Publisher:

Routledge

Date:

2020

Volume:

Number: