‘We are all in the same boat’: How societal discontent affects intention to help during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Resta Elena , Mula Silvana , Baldner Conrad , Di Santo Daniela , Agostini Maximilian , Bélanger Jocelyn J. , Gützkow Ben , Kreienkamp Jannis , Abakoumkin Georgios , Khaiyom Jamilah Hanum Abdul , Ahmedi Vjollca , Akkas Handan , Almenara Carlos A. , Atta Mohsin , Bagci Sabahat Cigdem , Basel Sima , Kida Edona Berisha , Bernardo Allan B. I. , Buttrick Nicholas R. , Chobthamkit Phatthanakit , Choi Hoon‐Seok , Cristea Mioara , Csaba Sara , Damnjanović Kaja , Danyliuk Ivan , Dash Arobindu , Douglas Karen M. , Enea Violeta , Faller Daiane Gracieli , Fitzsimons Gavan J. , Gheorghiu Alexandra , Gómez Ángel , Hamaidia Ali , Han Qing , Helmy Mai , Hudiyana Joevarian , Jeronimus Bertus F. , Jiang Ding‐Yu , Jovanović Veljko , Kamenov Zeljka , Kende Anna , Keng Shian‐Ling , Kieu Tra Thi Thanh , Koc Yasin , Kovyazina Kamila , Kozytska Inna , Krause Joshua , Kruglanski Arie W. , Kurapov Anton , Kutlaca Maja , Lantos Nóra Anna , Lemay Edward P. , Lesmana Cokorda Bagus J. , Louis Winnifred R. , Lueders Adrian , Malik Najma Iqbal , Martinez Anton P. , McCabe Kira O. , Mehulić Jasmina , Milla Mirra Noor , Mohammed Idris , Molinario Erica , Moyano Manuel , Muhammad Hayat , Muluk Hamdi , Myroniuk Solomiia , Najafi Reza , Nisa Claudia F. , Nyúl Boglárka , O'Keefe Paul A. , Osuna Jose Javier Olivas , Osin Evgeny N. , Park Joonha , Pica Gennaro , Pierro Antonio , Rees Jonas H. , Reitsema Anne Margit , Rullo Marika , Ryan Michelle K. , Samekin Adil , Santtila Pekka , Sasin Edyta , Schumpe Birga M. , Selim Heyla A. , Stanton Michael Vicente , Stroebe Wolfgang , Sultana Samiah , Sutton Robbie M. , Tseliou Eleftheria , Utsugi Akira , van Breen Jolien A. , van Lissa Caspar J. , van Veen Kees , van Dellen Michelle R. , Vázquez Alexandra , Wollast Robin , Yeung Victoria Wai‐lan , Zand Somayeh , Žeželj Iris Lav , Zheng Bang , Zick Andreas , Zúñiga Claudia , Leander N. Pontus 
Published: October 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has caused a global health crisis. Consequently, many countries have adopted restrictive measures that caused a substantial change in society. Within this framework, it is reasonable to suppose that a sentiment of societal discontent, defined as generalized concern about the precarious state of society, has arisen. Literature shows that collectively experienced situations can motivate people to help each other. Since societal discontent is conceptualized as a collective phenomenon, we argue that it could influence intention to help others, particularly those who suffer from coronavirus. Thus, in the present study, we aimed (a) to explore the relationship between societal discontent and intention to help at the individual level and (b) to investigate a possible moderating effect of societal discontent at the country level on this relationship. To fulfil our purposes, we used data collected in 42 countries (N = 61,734) from the PsyCorona Survey, a cross‐national longitudinal study. Results of multilevel analysis showed that, when societal discontent is experienced by the entire community, individuals dissatisfied with society are more prone to help others. Testing the model with longitudinal data (N = 3,817) confirmed our results. Implications for those findings are discussed in relation to crisis management. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.