A community psychology for migrant justice: Critically examining border violence and resistance during the COVID-19 syndemic.

This article explores the magnifying lenses of the COVID-19 syndemic to highlight how people racialized as migrants and refugees have been-and continue to be-disproportionally harmed. We use empirical evidence collected in our scholarly/activist work in Europe, Africa, South Asia, and the United States to examine migrant injustice as being produced by a combination of power structures and relations working to maintain colonial global orders and inequalities. This is what has been defined as "border imperialism." Our data, complemented by evidence from transnational solidarity groups, show that border imperialism has further intersected with the hygienic-sanitary logics of social control at play during the COVID-19 period. This intersection has resulted in increasingly coercive methods of restraining people on the move, as well as in increased-and new-forms of degradation of their lives, that is, an overall multiplication of border violences. At the same time, however, COVID-19 has provided a unique opportunity for grassroot solidarity initiatives and resistance led by people on the move to be amplified and extended. We conclude by emphasizing the need for community psychologists to take a more vigorous stance against oppressive border imperialist regimes and the related forms of violence they re/enact.

Tracking the nature and trajectory of social support in Facebook mutual aid groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of mutual aid groups were established on social media and operated as platforms through which people could offer or request social support. Considering the importance of Facebook mutual aid groups during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom but also the lack of empirical research regarding the trajectories and types of social support rendered available through the groups, our aims in this paper are threefold; first, to examine the trajectory of social support-related activity during the period between March-December 2020; second, to compare offers and requests of support during the peaks of the first and second waves; third to provide a rich analysis of the types of social support that were offered or requested through the online mutual aid groups. Quantitative findings suggest that online social support activity declined soon after the peak of the first pandemic wave and, at least in Facebook mutual aid groups, did not reach the levels observed during the first wave. Also, the number of offers of support during the first wave was higher compared to offers during the second wave, and similar was the case for requests for support. Additionally, offers for support were higher compared to requests for support during both the first and second waves. Finally, qualitative analysis showed that people used the Facebook mutual aid groups to offer and request various types of practical, emotional, and informational support. Limitations as well as implications of our study are considered.

How participation in Covid-19 mutual aid groups affects subjective well-being and how political identity moderates these effects.

Mutual aid groups have flourished during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, a major challenge is sustaining such groups, which tend to decline following the initial upsurge immediately after emergencies. The present study investigates one possible motivation for continued participation: the well-being benefits associated with psychological membership of groups, as suggested by the "social cure" approach. Interviews were conducted with 11 volunteers in a mutual aid group organized by ACORN, a community union and anti-poverty campaigning organization. Through qualitative analysis, we show that participation provided well-being in different ways: positive emotional experiences, increased engagement in life, improved social relationships, and greater sense of control. Participants also reported some negative emotional experiences. While all interviewees experienced benefits from participation, those who viewed their participation through a political lens were able to experience additional benefits such as feelings of empowerment. Moreover, the benefits conferred by a shared political identity appeared to be qualitatively different from the benefits conferred by other forms of shared identity. The interview data is used to hypothesize an overall process by which participants may come to attain a political identity via mutual aid. These findings have implications for how such groups retain their members and how authorities support these groups.

More Than a COVID-19 Response: Sustaining Mutual Aid Groups During and Beyond the Pandemic.

Mutual aid groups have been an indispensable part of the public response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They have provided many forms of support, in particular grocery shopping which has enabled people to self-isolate if required. While community solidarity during emergencies and disasters is common, previous studies have shown that such solidarity behaviors tend to decline over time, even when needs remain high. In this study, we address how mutual aid groups can be sustained over time in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted 32 interviews with organizers of COVID-19 mutual aid and community support groups in the United Kingdom between September 2020 and January 2021. Based on a reflexive thematic analysis, we identified several community and group level experiences and strategies that were related to sustained participation in COVID-19 mutual aid groups. Meeting community needs over time with localized action and resources and building trust and community-based alliances were foundational elements in the COVID-19 mutual aid groups. Group processes strategies, such as a culture of care and support and regular group meetings, were used to help to sustain involvement. Some experiences resulting from participation in COVID-19 mutual aid groups were also related to sustained participation, including positive emotions (e.g., joy, pride), well-being and sense of efficacy, and an increasing sense of local community belonging and cohesion. Based on these findings, we propose four practical recommendations for sustaining mutual aid groups to assist public engagement with protective behaviors in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. We recommend providing practical and financial support to COVID-19 mutual aid groups; to mobilize the knowledge and the experiences acquired by COVID-19 mutual aid groups for developing programs and interventions for addressing the medium and long-term impacts of COVID-19; to prioritize community-level interventions; and to recognize the role of group processes as these have the potential to lead to long-term community responses. These approaches will be key for ensuring that communities effectively recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

What have we learned about COVID-19 volunteering in the UK? A rapid review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Community engagement and volunteering are essential for the public response to COVID-19. Since March 2020 a large number of people in the UK have been regularly doing unpaid activities to benefit others besides their close relatives. Although most mutual aid groups emerged from local neighbourhoods and communities, official public institutions also fostered community volunteering, namely through the community champions scheme. By considering a broad definition of COVID-19 volunteering, this article describes a systematic review of the literature focused on one broad question: What have we learned about COVID-19 volunteering both at the UK national level and the more local community level? METHODS: A rapid review of the literature in peer-reviewed databases and grey literature was applied in our search, following the PRISMA principles. The search was conducted from 10 to 16 of October 2020, and sources were included on the basis of having been published between January and October 2020, focusing on COVID-19 and addressing community groups, volunteering groups, volunteers, or community champions in the UK. RESULTS: After initial screening, a total of 40 relevant sources were identified. From these, 27 were considered eligible. Findings suggest that food shopping and emotional support were the most common activities, but there were diverse models of organisation and coordination in COVID-19 volunteering. Additionally, community support groups seem to be adjusting their activities and scope of action to current needs and challenges. Volunteers were mostly women, middle-class, highly educated, and working-age people. Social networks and connections, local knowledge, and social trust were key dimensions associated with community organising and volunteering. Furthermore, despite the efforts of a few official public institutions and councils, there has been limited community engagement and collaboration with volunteering groups and other community-based organisations. CONCLUSIONS: We identified important factors for fostering community engagement and COVID-19 volunteering as well as gaps in the current literature. We suggest that future research should be directed towards deepening knowledge on sustaining community engagement, collaboration and community participation over time, during and beyond this pandemic.

Patterns of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm among European university students.

BACKGROUND: To compare patterns of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm from a survey of university students sampled from universities in Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland. METHODS: A total of 2191 university students (70% female, 90% white ethnic group, age range 18-25) completed the survey. Participants completed measures of demographic variables (age, age of onset, ethnic group and sex) and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), which was the primary outcome. RESULTS: Sixty-three percent of the sample scored negative for harmful drinking on the AUDIT (<8), with 30% categorized as hazardous drinkers, 4% harmful drinkers and 3% with probable dependence. Analysis of variance, including demographic factors as covariates, identified a main effect of country on AUDIT scores F(5, 2086) = 70.97, P < 0.001, partial eta square = 0.15. AUDIT scores were highest in England (M = 9.99; SD = 6.17) and Denmark (M = 9.52; SD = 4.86) and lowest in Portugal (M = 4.90; ° = 4.60). Post hoc tests indicated large effect size differences between scores in Denmark and England and scores in all other countries (0.79 < d < 0.94; all P's < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: European university students in our sample mainly reported low risk patterns of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm. However, students from Northern European countries had significantly higher AUDIT scores compared with students from Central and Southern European countries. Research is needed to replicate the present study using nationally representative samples to estimate the prevalence of alcohol use disorders among university students in different European countries.

Participação cívica e política: jovens imigrantes brasileiros/as em Portugal / Participación cívica y política: la juventud inmigrante de Brasil en Portugal / Civic and political participation: young people of Brazilian origin in Portugal

Neste artigo analisamos visões, experiências e níveis de participação cívica e política de jovens imigrantes brasileiros/as em Portugal. Num primeiro momento, apresenta-se as visões dos/as jovens (5 grupos de discussão, N=29) sobre a participação, direitos políticos e principais fontes de influência. De seguida, com base nos resultados dos questionários (N=357) examina-se formas e níveis de participação cívica e política. Para além disso, analisa-se os níveis de interesse e atenção política e as perceções de eficácia da participação. Os resultados, discutidos à luz de uma perspetiva abrangente, integram os dados qualitativos com os indicadores quantitativos. Conclui-se que a participação de jovens brasileiros/as em Portugal é um fenômeno complexo, que inclui dimensões do interesse político, e que varia de acordo com um conjunto de fatores (idade, o gênero e o capital cultural).(AU)

En este artículo se analizan las visiones, experiencias y niveles de la participación cívica y política de la juventud inmigrante brasileña en Portugal. Inicialmente, se presentan los puntos de vista de jovens (cinco grupos de discusión, N = 29) sobre la participación, los derechos políticos y las principales fuentes de influencia. Luego, basándose en los resultados de los cuestionarios (N = 357) son reportados formas y niveles de participación cívica y política. Además, se analizan los niveles de atención política y interés, y las percepciones de eficacia de la psrticipación. Los resultados, que se analizan a la luz de una visión abrangente, integram los datos cualitativos con los indicadores cuantitativos. Llegamos a la conclusión de que la participación de los jóvenes brasileños en Portugal es un fenómeno complejo, que incluye dimensiones de interés político, y varía de acuerdo a una serie de factores (edad, sexo y el capital cultural).(AU)

In this paper we analyse views, levels and experiences of participation of young people of Brazilian origin living in Portugal. Using data collected through focus groups discussions (N=29) we present youth views and meanings about participation, knowledge about their political rights and main sources of influence. Additionally, using results from the survey (N= 357) we report types and levels of civic and political participation. In addition, we explore levels of political interest, political attentiveness and perceived effectiveness of participation. The results are discussed through a broad conception of civic and political participation and contrasting the results from the focus groups and the survey. Based on the results, we conclude that participation of young Brazilian is a complex issue that includes cognitive dimensions and varies according age, gender and cultural capital.(AU)

Participação cívica e política: jovens imigrantes brasileiros/as em Portugal / Participación cívica y política: la juventud inmigrante de Brasil en Portugal / Civic and political participation: young people of Brazilian origin in Portugal

Neste artigo analisamos visões, experiências e níveis de participação cívica e política de jovens imigrantes brasileiros/as em Portugal. Num primeiro momento, apresenta-se as visões dos/as jovens (5 grupos de discussão, N=29) sobre a participação, direitos políticos e principais fontes de influência. De seguida, com base nos resultados dos questionários (N=357) examina-se formas e níveis de participação cívica e política. Para além disso, analisa-se os níveis de interesse e atenção política e as perceções de eficácia da participação. Os resultados, discutidos à luz de uma perspetiva abrangente, integram os dados qualitativos com os indicadores quantitativos. Conclui-se que a participação de jovens brasileiros/as em Portugal é um fenômeno complexo, que inclui dimensões do interesse político, e que varia de acordo com um conjunto de fatores (idade, o gênero e o capital cultural)...

En este artículo se analizan las visiones, experiencias y niveles de la participación cívica y política de la juventud inmigrante brasileña en Portugal. Inicialmente, se presentan los puntos de vista de jovens (cinco grupos de discusión, N = 29) sobre la participación, los derechos políticos y las principales fuentes de influencia. Luego, basándose en los resultados de los cuestionarios (N = 357) son reportados formas y niveles de participación cívica y política. Además, se analizan los niveles de atención política y interés, y las percepciones de eficacia de la psrticipación. Los resultados, que se analizan a la luz de una visión abrangente, integram los datos cualitativos con los indicadores cuantitativos. Llegamos a la conclusión de que la participación de los jóvenes brasileños en Portugal es un fenómeno complejo, que incluye dimensiones de interés político, y varía de acuerdo a una serie de factores (edad, sexo y el capital cultural)...

In this paper we analyse views, levels and experiences of participation of young people of Brazilian origin living in Portugal. Using data collected through focus groups discussions (N=29) we present youth views and meanings about participation, knowledge about their political rights and main sources of influence. Additionally, using results from the survey (N= 357) we report types and levels of civic and political participation. In addition, we explore levels of political interest, political attentiveness and perceived effectiveness of participation. The results are discussed through a broad conception of civic and political participation and contrasting the results from the focus groups and the survey. Based on the results, we conclude that participation of young Brazilian is a complex issue that includes cognitive dimensions and varies according age, gender and cultural capital...

Psicologia Política em Portugal: a importância de cruzar fronteiras / Psicología Política en Portugal: la importancia de cruzar fronteras / Political Psychology in Portugal: the importance of cross border

Neste artigo assumimos uma conceção ampla da psicologia política que reconhece o seu pluralismo disciplinar, teórico e metodológico. Os contributos analisados provêm de diversas áreas das ciências sociais, ora porque assumem a interface entre a psicologia e a política, ora porque reconhecem o papel do poder, da participação e da opressão nos processos de produção de marginalização, empoderamento e transformação social. As investigações são apresentadas em torno de quatro temas principais: (i) ideologia, valores e atitudes; (ii) cultura cívica, capital social e comportamento eleitoral; (iii) o poder como produtor de realidades sociais e espaços de marginalidade, e (iv) participação cívica e política, empoderamento e transformação social. Apesar de a institucionalização e disseminação da Psicologia Política em Portugal ser ainda moderada, são várias as investigações que enfatizam a saliência da relação entre a psicologia e a política, incluindo os fatores que predizem e medeiam o impacto a/da participação cívica e política...

In this paper we assume a broad conception of political psychological that recognizes its disciplinary, theoretical and methodological pluralism. As a result, we review research from diverse disciplines in the social sciences that either focus on the relationship between psychology and politics or emphasize the role of power, participation and oppression in the production of marginalization, empowerment and social change. The studies presented here are organized into four main topics: (i) ideology, values e attitudes; (ii) civic culture, social capital and electoral behavior; (iii) power, social relationships and deviant territories; and (iv) civic and political participation, empowerment and social change. Even if the institutionalization and dissemination of political psychology in Portugal is recent, research appears to recognize the need for a deeper understanding of the relationship between psychology and politics, including the factors that predict and mediate the impact of civic and political participation...

En este artículo asumimos una compreensión amplia de psicología política que reconocce su pluralismo disciplinar, teórico y metodológico. Los contributos analizados provienen de diversas áreas de las ciencias sociales, ora porque asumen la interface entre la psicología y la política, ora porque reconocen el papel del poder, de la participación y de la opresión en los procesos de producción de marginalización, empoderamiento y transformación social. Las investigaciones son presentadas en torno de cuatro temas principales: (i) ideología, valores y atitudes; (ii) cultura cívica, capital social y comportamiento electoral; (iii) el poder como productor de realidades sociales y espacios de marginalidad, y (iv) participación cívica y política, empoderamiento y transformación social. Aunque la institucionalización y diseminación de la Psicología Política en Portugal sea todavía moderada, son varias las investigaciones que enfatizan la saliencia de la relación entre la psicología y la política, incluyendo los factores que predicen y median el impacto a la/de la participación cívica y política...

Psicologia Política em Portugal: a importância de cruzar fronteiras / Psicología Política en Portugal: la importancia de cruzar fronteras / Political Psychology in Portugal: the importance of cross border

Neste artigo assumimos uma conceção ampla da psicologia política que reconhece o seu pluralismo disciplinar, teórico e metodológico. Os contributos analisados provêm de diversas áreas das ciências sociais, ora porque assumem a interface entre a psicologia e a política, ora porque reconhecem o papel do poder, da participação e da opressão nos processos de produção de marginalização, empoderamento e transformação social. As investigações são apresentadas em torno de quatro temas principais: (i) ideologia, valores e atitudes; (ii) cultura cívica, capital social e comportamento eleitoral; (iii) o poder como produtor de realidades sociais e espaços de marginalidade, e (iv) participação cívica e política, empoderamento e transformação social. Apesar de a institucionalização e disseminação da Psicologia Política em Portugal ser ainda moderada, são várias as investigações que enfatizam a saliência da relação entre a psicologia e a política, incluindo os fatores que predizem e medeiam o impacto a/da participação cívica e política.(AU)

In this paper we assume a broad conception of political psychological that recognizes its disciplinary, theoretical and methodological pluralism. As a result, we review research from diverse disciplines in the social sciences that either focus on the relationship between psychology and politics or emphasize the role of power, participation and oppression in the production of marginalization, empowerment and social change. The studies presented here are organized into four main topics: (i) ideology, values e attitudes; (ii) civic culture, social capital and electoral behavior; (iii) power, social relationships and deviant territories; and (iv) civic and political participation, empowerment and social change. Even if the institutionalization and dissemination of political psychology in Portugal is recent, research appears to recognize the need for a deeper understanding of the relationship between psychology and politics, including the factors that predict and mediate the impact of civic and political participation.(AU)

En este artículo asumimos una compreensión amplia de psicología política que reconocce su pluralismo disciplinar, teórico y metodológico. Los contributos analizados provienen de diversas áreas de las ciencias sociales, ora porque asumen la interface entre la psicología y la política, ora porque reconocen el papel del poder, de la participación y de la opresión en los procesos de producción de marginalización, empoderamiento y transformación social. Las investigaciones son presentadas en torno de cuatro temas principales: (i) ideología, valores y atitudes; (ii) cultura cívica, capital social y comportamiento electoral; (iii) el poder como productor de realidades sociales y espacios de marginalidad, y (iv) participación cívica y política, empoderamiento y transformación social. Aunque la institucionalización y diseminación de la Psicología Política en Portugal sea todavía moderada, son varias las investigaciones que enfatizan la saliencia de la relación entre la psicología y la política, incluyendo los factores que predicen y median el impacto a la/de la participación cívica y política.(AU)