Exploring community members’ experiences during COVID-19 social distancing: a qualitative study in Iran

Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic was implemented to slow viral transmission and prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed. However, this measure also caused psychological stress, weakened community bonds, and created socioeconomic challenges. Limited qualitative research has examined these effects in Iran’s collectivist context.

This study aimed to describe culturally influenced experiences of community members during enforced social distancing, focusing on three novel dimensions: (1) disruption of Taʿarof and mourning rituals as a source of psychological distress; (2) the manifestation of hypervigilance as an erosion of trust in interpersonal encounters and community spaces; and (3) culturally specific pathways of post-traumatic growth through family solidarity and communal commitment. This descriptive qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 19 participants representing diverse socio-demographic backgrounds, conducted between December 2020 and April 2021. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis until thematic saturation was achieved.

The analysis identified five core themes: confronting an existential threat, the fracturing of the social fabric, hypervigilance and eroded trust, the struggle to adapt, and post-traumatic growth with renewed bonds. Participants reported grief, anxiety, economic hardship, and social isolation, findings that align with global evidence. Three culturally specific dimensions emerged: disruption of Iran’s politeness ritual (Taʿarof) and Islamic mourning ceremonies, resulting in incomplete bereavement and a rupture in cultural identity; hypervigilance, manifested as heightened interpersonal caution and diminished trust in community spaces and relationships, particularly pronounced in Iran’s collectivist context; and post-traumatic growth, characterized by strengthened family solidarity, renewed appreciation for communal rituals, and a deeper commitment to collective well-being.

These findings demonstrate that social distancing in Iran was a significant cultural disruption, intensifying distress by disrupting essential socio-religious practices. Nevertheless, resilience emerged from strong family and community bonds. These results underscore the need for culturally responsive public health strategies that preserve social and ritual continuity during crises.

Policymakers should prioritize initiatives that strengthen community connections and adapt support systems to respect and preserve culturally significant practices, thereby promoting psychological well-being and social cohesion in future emergencies. We thank Tabriz University of Medical Sciences for its financial support and all the participants in this study. We also thank our colleagues in the Clinical Research Development Unit at Razi Psychiatric Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, for their cooperation, collaboration, and support.

This research study was supported by Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The funding source did not participate in the design, data collection, analysis, or manuscript development. Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran The authors declare no competing interests.