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To Be Scared or Not to Be Scared: Social Representations of COVID-19 in Young People (A Cross-Cultural Study)

Author

Listed:
  • Irina A. Novikova

    (Psychology and Pedagogy Department, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia Named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 117198 Moscow, Russia)

  • Elizaveta B. Berezina

    (Department of Psychology, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway 47500, Malaysia)

  • Marianna E. Sachkova

    (Department of General Psychology, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy & Public Administration, 82 Prospekt Vernadskogo, bldg 1, 119571 Moscow, Russia)

  • Nikolay V. Dvoryanchikov

    (Department of Clinical and Legal Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, 29, Sretenka, 127051 Moscow, Russia)

  • Alexey L. Novikov

    (General and Russian Linguistics Department, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia Named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 117198 Moscow, Russia)

  • Inna B. Bovina

    (Department of Clinical and Legal Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, 29, Sretenka, 127051 Moscow, Russia)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global threat to the world’s population. The aim of the presented exploratory study was to reveal and analyse social thinking about COVID-19 in two different cultural contexts: Russia and Malaysia. Social representation (SR) theory is a promising framework to analyse the symbolic response to the global health emergency. This exploratory study was conducted at the time of new COVID-19 variants’ emergence, accompanied by quarantine measures, and mass vaccination was not elaborated yet (12 October–15 December 2020). The total sample (convenience sampling) consisted of 349 young adults from Malaysia ( n = 195, 35.4% males, 64.6% females) and Russia ( n = 154, 10% males, 90% females) aged 17–36 years. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants, and an online version of the questionnaire was proposed to participants. The free association technique was used as the main tool in order to reveal the content of SRs. This prototypical analysis allowed us to reveal a hypothetical structure of SRs in the two cultural groups. These SR structures in each sample were crystallised around mostly negative elements. While in the Malaysian sample, the key elements were troubling and disturbing (death, pandemic, virus, quarantine), in the Russian sample (quarantine, disease), these elements could be seen as a rationalisation (or even a denial) of the COVID-19 threat.

Suggested Citation

  • Irina A. Novikova & Elizaveta B. Berezina & Marianna E. Sachkova & Nikolay V. Dvoryanchikov & Alexey L. Novikov & Inna B. Bovina, 2024. "To Be Scared or Not to Be Scared: Social Representations of COVID-19 in Young People (A Cross-Cultural Study)," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:13:y:2024:i:1:p:62-:d:1321138
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marta R. Jabłońska & Karolina Zajdel & Radosław Zajdel, 2021. "Social and Psychological Consequences of COVID-19 Online Content at a Lockdown Phase—Europe and Asia Comparison," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Joffe, Hélène & Haarhoff, Georgina, 2002. "Representations of far-flung illnesses: the case of Ebola in Britain," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 54(6), pages 955-969, March.
    3. Minkov, Michael & Kaasa, Anneli, 2022. "Do dimensions of culture exist objectively? A validation of the revised Minkov-Hofstede model of culture with World Values Survey items and scores for 102 countries," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4).
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