Community coherence during COVID-19 – a pilot study

Using a salutogenic perspective, this qualitative pilot study aimed to explore the experiences of university staff and students in various Western countries with community coherence during COVID-19. This entailed a focus on individual and community assets that contributed to positive experiences with community coherence during the pandemic. Sixteen participants from University staff and postgraduate students in Europe and Canada interested in Public Health were included. The study was conducted online via Microsoft Teams using the Structured Interview Matrix method. This participatory facilitating method enabled participants to dialogue about their experiences with community coherence during COVID-19. The results show that during COVID-19, participants primarily engaged in activities related to personal health and well-being, related to close family, friends and neighbours and an increased need to use digital technologies in their free time and during working hours. Key themes observed across the various international communities during the times when high levels of restrictions were in place, were a greater sense of loneliness and vulnerability. This pilot study indicates that there was a high level of community cohesion during COVID-19 and that people, despite living in different countries, were active in very similar ways.