Social Capital Trends in Germany in the Face of the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Research Note

Burrmann, Ulrike; Mutz, Michael; Sielschott, Stephan; Braun, Sebastian

doi:10.3389/fpos.2022.814943

Cited by 9 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(35 reference statements)

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“…Previous studies suggested that Social Capital remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic (Burrmann et al, 2022 ; Luo et al, 2022 ). Even if face-to-face social contacts were challenged by social distancing and travel restrictions, social media played a crucial role in allowing people to maintain social relationships (Samutachak et al, 2023 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

The Effects of the COVID-19-induced Lockdown on the Social Capital and Cultural Capital in Italy

et al. 2023

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The present study investigated the effects of the first COVID-19 lockdown on the Cultural and Social Capitals in Italy in a large group of adults (n = 1125). The relationships between the COVID-19 spread and participants’ Cultural Capital, Social Capital, educational level, occupational prestige, and age were studied using structural equation models. For women but not for men, pandemic spread was positively affected by occupational prestige and it had a positive relationship with their Social Capital (women: CFI = 0.949; RMSEA = 0.059 [CI = 0.045-0.075]; men: CFI = 0.959; RMSEA = 0.064 [CI = 0.039–0.087]). Moreover, the participants were divided into three validated clusters based on their Cultural and Social Capitals levels to investigate changes in the Capitals compared with the pre-lockdown period. It was found that the lockdown contributed to improving the gap among individuals increasing high levels and decreasing low levels of both the Capitals. People with high Cultural and Social Capitals seemed to have seized the opportunity given by COVID-19 restrictions to cultivate their cultural interests and become more involved within their networks. In contrast, individuals with low Cultural and Social Capitals paid the highest price for the social isolation. Given that the Capitals encourage healthy behavior and influence well-being and mental health, institutions should develop or improve their policies and practices to foster individual resources, and make fairer opportunities available during the pandemic.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

The Effects of the COVID-19-induced Lockdown on the Social Capital and Cultural Capital in Italy

et al. 2023

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“…Second, as sports clubs are committed to bringing all their members along, they must consider how to include those beyond the immediate reach of digitization. Invoking the concept of social capital, Burrmann et al (2022) argued that members of voluntary associations (including sports clubs, hobby associations, political parties, volunteer fire brigades, etc.) are more sociability-oriented and view society as helpful and trusting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mediatization in Times of Pandemic: How German Grassroots Sports Clubs Employed Digital Media to Overcome Communication Challenges During COVID-19

Schallhorn

Nölleke

Sinner

et al. 2022

Communication & Sport

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on all societal domains, including sports. Social distancing measures and the closure of sports facilities posed especially severe challenges for grassroots sports clubs, which thrive on joint activities and member social contact. Drawing on mediatization theory, the study examines the communication challenges faced by grassroots sports clubs and the perceived potential of digital media to overcome these obstacles during and beyond the pandemic. Based on in-depth interviews with 32 club officials of German grassroots sports clubs, the study identified ongoing uncertainty about COVID-19 regulations, preserving members’ sense of belonging during social distancing, and involving everyone in formal processes as the major communication challenges. While most of the interviewees valued the potential of digital media to address these challenges, they acknowledged that the benefits of digital media for individual members would depend on their skill, motivation, and concerns, as well as on the availability of digital infrastructure. For that reason, digital media were not considered a substitute for face-to-face social contact or sporting activity but were seen to extend opportunities for communication and training. More generally, these findings raise new questions about the relationship between mediatization and social cohesion.

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“…This well-documented and rather short-lived rally around the flag effect shows peoples' general inclination to respond to prevailing uncertainty and threats by government support and trust that governing institutions will guide them through difficult times (Lambert et al, 2011). However, during the second lockdown, previous findings in a German sample showed that while levels of interpersonal trust were similar to those before the pandemic, trust in society decreased compared to pre-pandemic levels (Burrmann et al, 2022). Based on this literature, we expected trust in institutions (institutional trust) to increase during the first lockdown in Germany, yet to decrease over the longer course of the pandemic.…”

Section: Dimensions Of Social Cohesionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Tend‐and‐befriend and rally around the flag effects during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Differential longitudinal change patterns in multiple aspects of social cohesion

Silveira

Hecht

Voelkle

et al. 2023

Euro J Social Psych

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The COVID‐19 pandemic and its lockdowns have uniquely challenged our social lives. The current study seeks to explore changes in social cohesion on various psychological dimensions (trust, belonging, social interaction, social engagement) and social system levels (family, friends, neighbours, institutions, nations), assessed in 3522 Berlin residents before, during, and after the first lockdown, and four times during the second lockdown. The first lockdown had a consistently negative impact on psychological dimensions of social cohesion. However, the picture was more nuanced regarding social systems: micro‐level cohesion with family members and neighbours, and macro‐level processes of institutional trust and national and international belonging increased, particularly in women. This suggests tend‐and‐befriend tendencies of affiliation, and affirmation of political and national identities. However, social cohesion collapsed during the second lockdown, indicating pandemic fatigue effects. Findings suggest a multidimensional approach to social cohesion and highlight the relevance of stressor duration in times of collective crisis.

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Social Capital Trends in Germany in the Face of the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Research Note

Cited by 9 publications

References 33 publications

The Effects of the COVID-19-induced Lockdown on the Social Capital and Cultural Capital in Italy

The Effects of the COVID-19-induced Lockdown on the Social Capital and Cultural Capital in Italy

Mediatization in Times of Pandemic: How German Grassroots Sports Clubs Employed Digital Media to Overcome Communication Challenges During COVID-19

Tend‐and‐befriend and rally around the flag effects during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Differential longitudinal change patterns in multiple aspects of social cohesion

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