Lessons from the Pandemic: How Stress Limits Compassion and Affects Decision-Making

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed numerous challenges to mental health, highlighting how psychological distress can influence behavior and social responses. Recent research from Washington University in St. Louis emphasizes that intense stress moments can impair an individual's capacity for compassion and patience. Notably, this effect varies across different age groups and circumstances. During periods of high stress, especially in full lockdowns, distress levels spiked universally but typically returned to baseline once restrictions eased.

This study explores how stress impacts social decision-making, particularly regarding public health measures like social distancing and vaccination. It suggests that individuals with higher neuroticism—a tendency toward negative emotional reactions—tend to display less compassion and are less tolerant of measures such as masking and distancing. Conversely, higher compassion correlates positively with adherence to these guidelines. Interestingly, elevated stress levels also motivated some individuals to get vaccinated, viewing it as a way to reduce overall worry about the virus.

Researchers, including Professors Sandra Hale and Joel Myerson, analyzed how psychological factors like distress, neuroticism, and compassion influence responses during the pandemic. Their findings reveal that stress hampers altruistic behaviors and social cooperation. Since neuroticism tends to decline with age while compassion increases, older adults generally exhibit lower distress and loneliness, possibly due to stronger in-person social networks, contrasting with the often shallow online connections of younger populations.

The implications for public health messaging are significant. Fear-based tactics may effectively promote vaccination but could be counterproductive for ongoing social measures, especially among youth sensitive to psychological distress. Therefore, addressing underlying distress and fostering calmness could enhance community cooperation and altruism, which are vital during health crises.

In summary, the pandemic's psychological toll has underscored the importance of mental resilience. Reducing distress and fostering compassion are essential strategies to improve social responses and adherence to health measures in current and future public health emergencies.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-lessons-pandemic-distress-limits-compassion.html