Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-20-2025
Abstract
The U.S. entered a “second pandemic” characterized by depression and loneliness after the initial outbreak of COVID-19. These psychological consequences have driven researchers to identify protective factors during this crisis. The present study tested whether perceived neighborhood cohesion, or that neighbors trust and count on one another, related to fewer depressive symptoms and less loneliness as the pandemic unfolded. Two waves of data were collected online from the same adults in April and October, 2020 (N = 1,928). People who reported greater neighborhood cohesion had fewer depressive symptoms (b = −1.01, p < 0.001) and were less lonely (b = −0.20, p < 0.001), even when considering other pandemic-related risk factors. The association between cohesion and loneliness was even stronger 6 months into the pandemic (b = −0.08, p < .001). Working to foster neighborhood cohesion now, so this resource is available before future crises, is a worthwhile goal.
Recommended Citation
Robinette JW, Jenkins B, Duran N-M, Frederick DA. Perceived neighborhood cohesion and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. Journal of Health Psychology. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053251369385
Copyright
The authors
Included in
Health Psychology Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons
Comments
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Health Psychology in 2025 following peer review. This article may not exactly replicate the final published version. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053251369385.
This scholarship is part of the Chapman University COVID-19 Archives.