Relational maintenance, collectivism, and coping strategies among Black populations during COVID-19

Abstract

The current study, adopting community resilience and social creativity, explores Black individuals’ relational maintenance and collectivist strategies employed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 410 Black adults across the United States answered open-ended web-based survey questions about identifiable shifts in relational dynamics and examples of mutual support exhibited among community members amid COVID-19. Findings include individuals implementation of media technologies to maintain communication and social support, the groups’ concentrated efforts toward providing health and wellness-based information, increased communal interaction, and the redistribution of monetary donations and volunteerism to support organizations promoting gender and racial equity. Outcomes demonstrate that Black populations embrace collectivist-orientated tendencies as a means of community resilience, extending the community resilience framework amid the ongoing crisis and absent of specific geographic location.

When the Bough Breaks: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of mental health symptoms in mothers of young children during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…racially minoritized have developed coping skills and supports from earlier hardship they have experienced in their communities (e.g., systemic disparities, oppression, and racism), which prepared them to deal with the stressors associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic, while White or highly educated women were less prepared to deal with these stressors. Indeed, research in the United States documented increased emphasis on social support, communal interaction, and increased volunteerism in Black communities during COVID‐19 (Stamps et al., 2021 ), all factors that could promote individual and community resilience. Additionally, Black (57%) and Latin American (35%) children in the United States are more likely to reside in multigenerational households than white children (20%) (Cross, 2018 ), which may also have conferred resilience due to the additional support and childcare available in the home.…”

A descriptive literature review of early research on COVID-19 and close relationships

“…Second, Stamps et al (2021) focused on how Black communities in the U.S. enacted relational maintenance and collectivist strategies during the pandemic. Stamps et al (2021) observed six themes: (1) reimagining of human connection (e.g., drive-by birthday parties), (2) increased established human communication tactics (e.g., writing letters), (3) adoption of new media literacies (e.g., email prayer requests), (4) monetary, emotional, or task-oriented support (e.g., help running errands), (5) leveraging skills and resources (e.g., meal prep for community members), and (6) institutional support (e.g., volunteering with social justice organizations). Stamps et al’s (2021) identity-centered approach enhances our understanding of diverse responses to COVIOD-19 and provides a foundation for more effective support for individuals with preexisting contextual vulnerabilities ( Pietromonaco & Overall, 2021 ).…”

Psychosocial Stressors and Coping Strategies Among African Americans During Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Qualitative Study

“…Many of the coping strategies within the Black community, such as familialism and spirituality, were hampered due to the safety measures and restrictions due to COVID-19 [ 25 , 53 ]. A few participants in our study did revert to their prayer life and scriptures to cope as cited in past studies [ 25 ].…”