  Given concerns about mental health during periods of Covid-19 lockdown, it
important to understand how engagement with online Covid-19 related material
can affect mood. In the UK and Ireland, online community support initiatives
(OCSIs) have emerged to help people manage their lives. Yet, little is known
about how people engaged with these or whether they influenced subsequent mood.
We conducted surveys to explore how people in the UK and Ireland engaged with
OCSIs, and found that 70% did so to offer support (e.g. to provide company).
Those who did so reported feeling significantly calmer afterwards, those who
engaged for general concerns (e.g. in response to anti-social behaviour)
reported feeling significantly more anxious afterwards, but there was no
difference in reported mood for those who engaged for other reasons (e.g. to
share experiences or views). Thus, engaging with an OCSI for altruistic
purposes might help to make people feel calmer.
