How can community support be maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Community Development
• Public Policy

Background:

• Community development projects require robust public support, which is often challenged during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Understanding the factors influencing community support is crucial for successful project implementation and sustainability.
• Social cohesion and individual perceptions play significant roles in shaping community engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structural relationships between collaboration, perceived benefits, perceived costs, and community satisfaction.
• To identify key mediators and direct predictors of community support for development projects.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for enhancing community support during public health crises.

Main Methods:

• A structural equation model was employed to analyze data from 600 participants across 30 South Korean communities.
• Latent variables included collaboration (social cohesion), perceptions of benefits and costs, and community satisfaction.
• Statistical analysis examined the indirect effects of collaboration on community support through mediating variables.

Main Results:

• Collaboration, conceptualized as social cohesion, indirectly enhances community support by positively influencing perceived benefits and community satisfaction.
• Perceived benefits and community satisfaction were identified as critical factors for maintaining community support.
• The study highlights the mediating role of these variables in the relationship between collaboration and community support.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing community support for development projects hinges on fostering collaboration, maximizing perceived benefits, and ensuring community satisfaction.
• These factors are particularly vital during periods of uncertainty, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Policymakers and practitioners should strategically integrate these elements to strengthen community engagement and project success.