Background Evidence about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on existing health inequalities is emerging. This study explored differences in mental health, sense of coherence (SOC), sense of community coherence (SOCC), sense of national coherence (SONC), and social support between low and high socioeconomic (SES) groups, and the predictive value of these predictors for mental health. participants and procedure A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey in the Netherlands in October 2021, comprising a total of 91 respondents (n = 41, low SES; n = 50, high SES). results There were no differences in mental health, SOC, SOCC, SONC, and social support between the groups. SOC was a predictor for mental health in both groups and SOCC for the low SES group. conclusions We found that both SOC and SOCC predict mental health during the pandemic. In the article we reflect on possible pathways for strengthening these resources for mental health.
De coronapandemie heeft opnieuw laten zien dat we in een onderling afhankelijke wereld leven. Wat daar gebeurt, heeft hier ook een weerslag. Er is een groeiend besef dat een kritisch en empathisch bewustzijn cruciaal is voor nationale en internationale samenwerking en vrede en dat dit meer vergt dan het ontwikkelen van culturele sensitiviteit of sociale actieplannen (Lengelle, Jardine, & Bonnar, 2018). Wereldburgerschap wordt gezien als een belangrijk thema in het hoger onderwijs en UNESCO beschouwt de sociaalemotionele ontwikkeling van studenten als fundamenteel onderdeel daarvan. Het probleem is daarbij wel: wat zijn effectieve manieren om dit leerproces op gang te brengen binnen wereldburgerschapsonderwijs?
During the first half of 2020, the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus had a huge global impact. The physical health of many was (often severely) threatened and affected, resulting in numerous deaths. Furthermore, all aspects of human coexistence came under pressure, such as economic activities and material living conditions, psychological well-being and social contacts, human rights and democratic decision-making, international political relations and global solidarity. As in other parts of the world, COVID-19 kept the Netherlands in its grip.In this article we would like to address the following questions:-What impact did pandemic and policy have on Dutch social work education and how was this experienced by students?-What was the impact of pandemic and policy on social work practices and what were its challenges for social professionals?-What does this all mean for the future of social work education, since it has to take the present concerns of students into account as well as prepare them for social work practice in the near future?
