Bibliographic details

Lewin, A.C., Shamai, M. & Novikov, S. Surviving in Crisis Mode: The Effect of Material Hardship and Social Support on Emotional Wellbeing Among People in Poverty During COVID-19. Soc Indic Res (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-022-03011-7

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a sudden economic crisis that led to increases in hardshipThe COVID-19 pandemic triggered a sudden economic crisis that led to increases in hardshipand poverty. Motivated by the concern that people living in long-term poverty havefew reserves to draw upon in times of crisis and may experience severe consequences,this study focuses on the association between material hardship and emotional wellbeingamong people in poverty. The data were collected in two waves of telephone surveys duringthe pandemic (n = 88). Participants for the study were recruited through social servicedepartments in six cities in Northern Israel. The findings show that COVID-19 increasedmaterial hardship, and that material hardship has detrimental effects on the four measuresof emotional wellbeing selected (stress, anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms).Informal social support has positive effects on emotional wellbeing but it does not counterthe negative effects of material hardship. Policy implications are discussed.

Webpage: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11205-022-03011-7#citeas