Mutual aid groups have flourished during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, a major challenge is sustaining such groups, which tend to decline following the initial upsurge immediately after emergencies. The present study investigates one possible motivation for continued participation: the well-being benefits associated with psychological membership of groups, as suggested by the “social cure” approach. Interviews were conducted with 11 volunteers in a mutual aid group organized by ACORN, a community union and anti-poverty campaigning organization. Through qualitative analysis, we show that participation provided well-being in different ways: positive emotional experiences, increased engagement in life, improved social relationships, and greater sense of control. Participants also reported some negative emotional experiences. While all interviewees experienced benefits from participation, those who viewed their participation through a political lens were able to experience additional benefits such as feelings of empowerment. Moreover, the benefits conferred by a shared political identity appeared to be qualitatively different from the benefits conferred by other forms of shared identity. The interview data is used to hypothesize an overall process by which participants may come to attain a political identity via mutual aid. These findings have implications for how such groups retain their members and how authorities support these groups.

中文翻译：

---

参与 Covid-19 互助团体如何影响主观幸福感以及政治身份如何缓和这些影响

在 Covid-19 大流行期间，互助团体蓬勃发展。然而，一个主要挑战是维持这些群体，这些群体在紧急情况后立即出现最初的高涨后往往会下降。本研究调查了继续参与的一种可能动机：与“社会治愈”方法所暗示的群体心理成员相关的福祉益处。采访了由社区工会和反贫困运动组织 ACORN 组织的互助小组中的 11 名志愿者。通过定性分析，我们表明参与以不同方式提供幸福感：积极的情感体验、增加的生活参与度、改善的社会关系和更强的控制感。参与者还报告了一些负面的情绪体验。虽然所有受访者都从参与中受益，但那些从政治角度看待他们参与的人能够体验到额外的好处，例如赋权感。此外，共享政治身份所带来的好处似乎与其他形式的共享身份所带来的好处在质量上有所不同。访谈数据用于假设参与者可能通过互助获得政治身份的整体过程。这些发现对这些团体如何留住其成员以及当局如何支持这些团体具有影响。共同政治身份所带来的好处似乎与其他形式的共同身份所带来的好处在性质上有所不同。访谈数据用于假设参与者可能通过互助获得政治身份的整体过程。这些发现对这些团体如何留住其成员以及当局如何支持这些团体具有影响。共同政治身份所带来的好处似乎与其他形式的共同身份所带来的好处在性质上有所不同。访谈数据用于假设参与者可能通过互助获得政治身份的整体过程。这些发现对这些团体如何留住其成员以及当局如何支持这些团体具有影响。