Pandemic fatigue fueled political discontent during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Health authorities have highlighted “pandemic fatigue” as a psychological consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and warned that “fatigue” could demotivate compliance with health-related policies and mandates. Yet, fatigue from following the policies of authorities may have consequences far beyond the health domain. Theories from the social sciences have raised that real and perceived costs of policies can also drive sentiments of discontent with the entire political establishment. Integrating theories from the health and social sciences, we ask how pandemic fatigue (i.e., perceived inability to “keep up” with restrictions) developed over the pandemic and whether it fueled political discontent. Utilizing longitudinal and panel surveys collected from September 2020 to July 2021 in eight Western countries (N = 49,116), we analyze: 1) fatigue over time at the country level, 2) associations between pandemic fatigue and discontent, and 3) the effect of pandemic fatigue on political discontent using panel data. Pandemic fatigue significantly increased with time and the severity of interventions but also decreased with COVID-19 deaths. When triggered, fatigue elicited a broad range of discontent, including protest support and conspiratorial thinking. The results demonstrate the significant societal impact of the pandemic beyond the domain of health and raise concerns about the stability of democratic societies, which were already strained by strife prior to the pandemic.

Factors of early COVID‐19 prevention policy engagement in France and in the United States

“…This is relevant for policy makers seeking to design early policy messages that target various forms of resistance to preventative behaviors and vaccination. In a worldwide context of pandemic fatigue and political instability, recent literature has noted the need to include social sciences in the management of health crises (Jørgensen et al, 2022). Our research provides some clues to guide this management, particularly in determining which worldviews are less likely to comply with early preventative strategies.…”

Pandemedia

“…These counter-narratives of mis-and disinformation often concerned protective measures put in place, such as the use of surgical face masks (Lupton Stine Liv Johansen, Thomas Enemark Lundtofte & Christian Hviid Mortensen Editorial: Pandemedia & Willis, 2021), but they also created dangerous disputes over whether vaccines were safe and/or effective. Consequently, trust in public institutions was put to the test, revealing problems that had been building up before this particular crisis and perhaps with long-lasting or even permanent consequences regarding trust in democratic institutions (Jørgensen et al, 2022).…”

Economic Shocks and Fiscal Policy Preferences: Evidence From COVID-19 in Spain

“… 3. Space constraints prevent full discussion of the voluminous literature, but see De Vries, et al (2021) for a representative study indicating that incumbent evaluations increased during the first Italian lockdown; Gadarian, et al (2022) provide a key account of political polarization in the US, León and Garmendia-Madariaga (2020) analyze the impact of the pandemic on preferences for centralization, and Jørgensen, et al (2022) discuss the onset of pandemic fatigue. …”