Covid-19 pandemic leads to boycott-China sentiment, nationalist upswing, says DU study

LUCKNOW: There’s a surge in anti-China sentiment and a nationalist upswing in the country, according to a Delhi University survey on psychological impact of covid-19 pandemic on citizens. The study by the DU psychology faculty shows 56% respondents vowing to buy Made-in-India products, while 42% say they would boycott Chinese goods. At least 61% respondents felt Centre’s effort to combat the pandemic was adequate.

Around 56% respondents said they are worried about the economy sinking into recession and are distressed about the less privileged (migrant labourers and daily wage workers) and 52% expressed anger over people not following lockdown guidelines and social distancing norms. Interestingly, only 8% felt they may get infected and were worried of running short of food and other supplies.
Conducted by Kanika Ahuja, associate professor, department of psychology, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, the real-time study explored psychosocial stressors — people’s behaviour in such times, ways of coping or reacting to such unprecedented events — in time of pandemic. The study sample included 1009 citizens in the 17-83 age-group and living in 20 different cities of the country. Of this, 30% were students, 12.5% home-makers, 7% retired citizens, while remaining 50.2% were in public and private jobs.

Talking to TOI, Prof Ahuja said, “Covid-19 ushered collectivism and practices and rituals associated with collectivistic cultures serve as a psychological protection against threat of disease. A similar pattern was witnessed by researchers in 2016 after the Ebola epidemic.” She said, tasks such as clapping from balconies, lighting diyas are serving the same psychological function.

The study also found 95% respondents saying they will not waste food, while 72% said they would cut expenditure on luxury items. The study recommended that families need to come closer to beat the stress. So holding hands and hugging, but only within the family, should be encouraged. Another way to cope with stress is to turn altruistic, the study concluded.