Social Capital Plays Key Role During Pandemic

COVID RANGERS REMBANG

A number of members or volunteers of the Covid Rangers took pictures before carrying out the mission, in Rembang Regency, Central Java, on Thursday (22/7/2021). Covid Rangers is a movement to help Covid-19 patients in Rembang.

The magnitude of the impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic increasingly indicates that the public are no longer relying on the government to cope with it. Society, with its social power, needs to be empowered.

The pandemic has eroded the economy and the psychosocial capital of citizens. The results of a Kompas Research and Development survey in July show that the condition has reached its lowest point in terms of vulnerability.

One of the many impacts of the pandemic is a decline in household incomes as the mainstay of meeting the basic necessities of life. About 80 percent of respondents said their incomes had decreased. Informal workers, self-employed workers and owners of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with a certain number of employees were the most affected. This is why the employees and employers in these categories have made various efforts to survive, such as draining their savings, selling assets, seeking additional sources income, and even taking on debt.

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In the midst of the decrease in incomes, various tactics must be taken to meet daily needs. So far, the most logical action that has been taken is to prioritize primary needs rather than secondary or tertiary needs. In economic strategy, basic needs and health are the only main priority. Traveling and investing, for example, have been avoided.

The psychosocial condition of the public is no less worrisome. The prolonged duration of the pandemic, especially with the recent surge in new Covid-19 cases, has disrupted the people’s ability to adapt. The number of Covid-19 victims and deaths from the virus has continued to increase. More and more neighbors, colleagues, and relatives have become victims.

According to the survey results, the public has become more fragile in terms of their general psychological state. Indicators of readiness, eagerness, and self-efficacy have also showed a worsening trend.

KOMPAS/Dokumentasi Tagana Kabupaten Malang

A community provides food for residents undergoing self-isolation in South Malang, East Java, on Sunday (20/06/2021).

The results of the July survey showed that the public had reached the lowest psychological point so far. Now, the "optimistic" members of the public, as indicated by their high degree of readiness and eagerness to fight the pandemic, accounts for just 30.3 percent. There has been a consistent and significant decline in this category since the December 2020 survey.

On the other hand, the number of respondents categorized as “ambiguous" has increased, indicating indecisiveness among the public. Meanwhile, the "pessimistic" group has become more dominant at 39.6 percent, a higher percentage than the results of the previous survey.

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In line with the psychosocial changes in society that have contributed to growing pessimism, self-efficacy in dealing with the situation has also decreased. Compared to the results of the December 2020 survey, the percentage of those who believed they could get through the pandemic safely, either through their own efforts or with the help of other parties (the government), has also begun to decline.

As a matter of fact, despite the pressures, the people still possess a power that can be empowered. According to the survey results, throughout this pandemic, social relations based on trust, similar experiences in dealing with Covid-19, and cooperation in helping others who are infected, still have the potential to grow.

In terms of proportion, only around 12 percent fall into the low cohesiveness classification.

The social ties between neighbors, according to the survey, showed a total score of 18.4. This is relatively high when viewed in the context of the highest score of 25 on the public cohesiveness scale. In terms of proportion, only around 12 percent fall into the low cohesiveness classification. On the other hand, 49 percent of respondents lived in an environment with a high level of social cohesiveness, and the rest (39 percent) in environments with moderate cohesiveness.

The relatively high degree of social cohesiveness is also accompanied by solidarity. In neighborly relations, for example, the majority of the respondents also demonstrated empathy for their neighbors infected with Covid-19.

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

Residents transport oxygen cylinders that have been refilled on Jalan Swadarma Raya, Ulujami Village, Pesanggrahan District, South Jakarta, on Sunday (4/7/2021).

However, not has been recorded as regards community efforts to help care for people with Covid-19. Avoidance was recorded in around 80 percent of all respondents. The data indicates that Covid-19 is still feared by most members of the public. However, providing assistance for those in self-isolation, such as by reminding neighbors to comply with the health protocols, providing information and food assistance, and facilitating access to health services, is widely practiced in communities.

These findings show that there is the potential to further promote social power at the community level. Unfortunately, this social capital remains sporadic and spontaneous, and has not become a movement that is widespread, organized and consistent. (LITBANG KOMPAS).

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi).