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. 2021 Feb;67(1):46-53.
doi: 10.1177/0020764020936323. Epub 2020 Jul 4.

Fear, xenophobia and collectivism as predictors of well-being during Coronavirus disease 2019: An empirical study from India

Kanika K Ahuja  1 , Debanjan Banerjee  2 , Kritika Chaudhary  1 , Chehak Gidwani  1
Affiliations

Fear, xenophobia and collectivism as predictors of well-being during Coronavirus disease 2019: An empirical study from India

Kanika K Ahuja et al. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global health threat. Biological disasters like this can generate immense prejudice, xenophobia, stigma and othering, all of which have adverse consequences on health and well-being. In a country as diverse and populous in India, such crisis can trigger communalism and mutual blame. Keeping this in context, this study explored the relationship between well-being and xenophobic attitudes towards Muslims, collectivism and fear of COVID-19 in India.

Methods: The study was carried out on 600 non-Islamic Indians (231 males, 366 females and 3 others; mean age: 38.76 years), using convenience sampling. An online survey containing Fear of Coronavirus scale, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale and Collectivism Scale was used. Xenophobia was assessed using two scales: generalized prejudice towards Muslims and specific xenophobic tendencies towards Muslims during COVID-19. The data were analysed using correlational methods and multiple regression.

Results: The findings showed that positively significant relationship exists between well-being and age as well as with collectivism, while an inversely significant relationship between well-being and fear of COVID-19 was found. The results of the multiple regression analysis shows that fear of COVID-19, age, collectivism and generalized xenophobia, in the order of their importance, together contributed to nearly 20% of variance in well-being.

Conclusion: The findings are reflective of the importance of collectivism in enhancing well-being in these times of uncertainty. Xenophobia, one of the common offshoots of pandemics, can also harm the overall well-being. Implications are discussed in the light of India's diverse socio-religious background and global context.

Keywords: COVID-19; Well-being; collectivism; fear of coronavirus; xenophobia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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