Understanding perceived COVID-19 changes, collectivism, and social exclusion: A cross-cultural study in 32 countries

Zhou X., English A. S., Wei L., Yudiarso A., Dash A., Tipandjan A., ...More

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTERCULTURAL RELATIONS, vol.107, 2025 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 107
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2025.102198
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTERCULTURAL RELATIONS
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, ASSIA, Periodicals Index Online, ABI/INFORM, CINAHL, Communication & Mass Media Index, Communication Abstracts, Criminal Justice Abstracts, Index Islamicus, Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Political Science Complete, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
  • Keywords: Collectivism, Perceived COVID-19 changes, Perceived social exclusion
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This cross-cultural study examines the relationship between perceived COVID-19 changes due to the impacts on everyday life by the pandemic with social exclusion and across 32 cultures and their levels in collectivism. With data from the start of the first outbreak from March 2020 to June 2020 (N = 9245), multilevel analysis indicated that as individuals perceive greater daily life changes induced by the pandemic, they experience heightened levels of social exclusion, with this association being particularly pronounced in less collectivistic cultures. These findings underscore the importance of considering cultural context in understanding responses to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, with implications for culturally sensitive interventions aimed at promoting social inclusion across diverse cultural contexts.