How Pandemic Stress Affects Compassion and Decision Making

High levels of stress can impact cognitive abilities differently depending on the situation and age. As distress increases, people's compassion and patience diminish, as discovered by a study from Washington University in St. Louis.

The study builds upon earlier research examining the pandemic's effects on mental health and decision-making across various age groups.

Professor Leonard Green, one of the study’s authors, revealed that psychological distress among young people was rising steadily for eight years before the pandemic. The stress spike during the actual pandemic followed this pre-existing trend, except during stringent lockdowns when all age groups experienced elevated distress levels, which normalized once restrictions were lifted.

A newer study co-authored by Professor Sandra Hale, Academic Coordinator Joel Myerson, and retired research scientist Michael Strube further investigates factors influencing decisions during stressful periods.

This study, published in the Medical Research Archives, looked into social distancing behavior and vaccination choices through survey questions. It evaluated psychological distress levels, neuroticism (the tendency to react negatively under stress), along with measures of individuals' capacity for "compassion" (a combination of altruism, sympathy, and trust).

The findings showed that higher neuroticism correlated with reduced compassion and less adherence to pandemic mitigation practices like social distancing and masking. In contrast, greater compassion was positively linked to complying with these measures.

Interestingly, heightened distress also influenced vaccination decisions, likely as a way to reduce worries about the virus through a one-time action.

Myerson emphasizes the importance of tailoring public health messages effectively, highlighting that fear-based tactics may encourage vaccination but could backfire for other measures demanding continued social restrictions, especially among younger individuals who are more prone to heightened stress. Prolonged fear messaging might not be effective in persuading actions requiring individual sacrifice for collective benefit.

As people age, neuroticism tends to decrease while compassion grows, Myerson explained. However, it is distress that hinders compassionate behavior. Therefore, addressing and alleviating this distress should be prioritized when tackling public health issues.

"Maintaining calm in challenging times can enhance the public's capacity for kindness and goodwill," he added.

To increase compassion, it’s crucial to manage stress levels, particularly among youth and adults globally who are already experiencing a 'distress pandemic.'

Physiological changes with age might explain why elders experience lower distress from global events but rely more on deep in-person social networks rather than superficial online connections.

Despite older adults losing loved ones and friends, they exhibit lower stress levels and loneliness. This is potentially due to their strong in-person support networks, which could be a topic for future research as the "stress pandemic" persists even after COVID has waned.