During the COVID-19 pandemic, decisions like whether to follow social distancing guidelines or get vaccinated were often driven by more than just personal safety. Many people were equally concerned about protecting their families. Globally, the effectiveness of pandemic control measures depended not only on government policies but also on the strength of family ties.
Professor Ming Gu, an Assistant Professor at Duke Kunshan University’s Global Health Research Center and Social Sciences Division, recently published a study in SSM – Population Health titled The Power of the Family in Times of Pandemic: Cross-Country Evidence from 93 Countries. In this study, Professor Gu analyzed the data and found that people show more support for taking epidemic prevention measures with stronger family ties. In addition, young people in countries with stronger family ties are more supportive of mandatory vaccinations.
Family Bonds: A Crucial Factor in Pandemic Control
Professor Gu’s research draws on data from two large-scale multinational surveys. The strength of family ties was assessed using the World Values Survey (WVS), while information on preventive actions during the pandemic was collected through the PsyCorona survey. The study analyzed responses from 61,478 individuals across 93 countries.
Given the greater risk posed by COVID-19 to the elderly, the study introduces an innovative approach to adjusting this metric by emphasizing how children view their parents, which is somewhat similar to the idea of filial piety. The findings revealed that countries in Africa and the Middle East had the strongest family ties, while several European nations, including Finland, the Netherlands, and Lithuania, were at the lower end of the scale. In contrast, most Asian countries, including China, displayed moderate strength of family ties.
During the pandemic, respondents reported engaging in non-pharmaceutical preventive measures such as frequent handwashing, maintaining social distance, and self-isolation. The analysis revealed a clear correlation between stronger family ties and a higher likelihood of adopting these preventive measures, as well as a greater willingness to get vaccinated. Notably, in countries with closer family connections, younger individuals (aged 18-34) showed stronger support for mandatory vaccination and were more inclined to get vaccinated themselves. However, the study also highlighted initial vaccine hesitancy, even in countries with strong family ties, which Professor Gu suggests may have been influenced by factors such as concerns about vaccine safety.
What Can We Do for the Next Pandemic?
Professor Ming Gu observes, “In societies with strong family bonds, younger people are more likely to take preventive measures when faced with a viral threat—not just to protect themselves, but to safeguard their elderly and vulnerable family members. This behavior reflects a deeply ingrained sense of cultural responsibility.”
This study sheds new light on the complex relationship between family ties and health behaviors. In future public health crises, combining scientific information with messages that resonate with family values could be more effective in encouraging people to adhere to preventive measures. This approach is particularly crucial in the early stages of a pandemic, when non-pharmaceutical interventions are essential for slowing the spread of the virus.
By Ruitong Li (UG Class of 2026)
Read the full study online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101698
