Examining the Psycho-Social Impacts of the COVID-19 Global Outbreak from the Perspective of Network Analysis

The aim of the project is to examine the psycho-social variables related to the COVID-19 global epidemic in a representative sample of Turkey. With the network analysis approach, the effects of the epidemic on people of different socioeconomic levels are discussed in the context of financial concerns, behavior regulation and a series of well-being indicators. In a sense, it is aimed to determine the risk map by revealing the centrality and mutual effects of these variables for different groups. In this project, where data were collected from 1905 people in a representative sample of Turkey, the participants were asked questions about their sensitivity to disgust, perceived financial concerns, trust in institutions, how they regulate their behavior and well-being. Then, the centrality and interrelationships of these variables with respect to each other in different sub-samples were examined. According to the results of the network analysis conducted according to the differences in socioeconomic level (SES), while inadequacy and helplessness, recreational pursuit and job loss are central for the participants in the high SES, the stress observed with the inadequacy, job loss, investment behaviors, and job loss for the participants in the middle SES Both COVID-19-related disgust and generalized disgust sensitivity were of high central importance. For participants in the low SES, financial savings, motivation to invest, and job burnout were highly interacted with other nodes. The results revealed variables of central importance during the epidemic period for people in different HIAs, and the relationship of these variables of relative importance with other variables should be considered in data-based intervention programs that are likely to be developed. It is seen that the risk factors that individuals in different SEDs face with the COVID-19 global epidemic have different dimensions. When the results of the network analysis are examined in terms of the centrality of the variables discussed and the strength of the relationship with other variables, informative trainings on ways to cope with stress at the individual level will be beneficial for people with high SES, rather than social empowering programs. Potential employment conditions and the ability to organize and manage their close relationships seem critical for people in the Middle SIA. Finally, financial literacy trainings for low SES participants can be useful in coping with the problems caused by the global epidemic. Of course, besides these financial literacy trainings, increasing employment opportunities is of critical importance.