What increases the chances of staying in social isolation? Effect of prosocial variables

Abstract

The article aims to evaluate the effects that empathy, altruism and compassion, plus sociodemographic variables, have on the permanence of adherence to the social isolation demanded by the Covid-19 pandemic. The study was quantitative, longitudinal and included a sample of 200 people from three Brazilian states, who answered twice an online questionnaire (prepared by Google forms), at intervals of 30 days, during social isolation. Davis’ Multidimensional Reactivity Scale was used; the Santa Clara compassion scale (Brief Compassion Scale); the Altruistic Attitudes Scale and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The results indicated that there was an increase in the perspective empathy dimension between the first and the second collection and that the financial aspects, compassion and perspective taking increased the chances of people remaining in social isolation.