Social Cognition and Covid-19: a rapid scoping review

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has enormously impacted health, the economy, and social organisations worldwide. Public health interventions such as vaccines, protective equipment and social distancing have brought profound changes in the general and clinical population's behaviour, with different levels of adherence to social and health standards. To understand these phenomena, it is essential to know how models and theories of social behaviour influence patterns of adherence to preventive measures in the context of the pandemic. Research on social cognition can explain behavioural variables and their impact on mental well-being, creating the basis for interventions that promote adherence to prevention rules. This PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) rapid review aims to identify and analyse current evidence on the pandemic's impact on social cognition components. First, we conducted a comprehensive literature review and discussed the findings narratively. Tables were constructed, and articles were sorted based on study characteristics. Finally, 14 eligible articles were identified. Our findings suggest that restrictions aimed at stemming infections and social isolation led to changes in patterns of social cognition in clinical and general populations. Among the clinical population, subjects with autism spectrum disorders and Parkinson's disease reported changes in social cognition. Among the general population, older adults and front-line workers also reported variations. Our results suggest that planning-oriented social cognition models could effectively promote adherence to preventive norms. These findings can help develop behavioural intervention models by identifying appropriate approaches for the general population and specific subgroups.