Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health

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Volume 6, Issue 2, June 2016, Pages 49 - 57

The psychology of health and well-being in mass gatherings: A review and a research agenda

Authors
Nick Hopkinsa, *, n.p.hopkins@dundee.ac.uk, Stephen Reicherb
aSchool of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
bSchool of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
*Corresponding author at: School of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK.
Corresponding Author
Received 7 May 2015, Revised 1 June 2015, Accepted 21 June 2015, Available Online 9 July 2015.
DOI
10.1016/j.jegh.2015.06.001How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Health benefit; Health risk; Mass gathering; Psychology; Sharing; Social identity
Abstract

Mass gatherings bring large numbers of people into physical proximity. Typically, this physical proximity has been assumed to contribute to ill health (e.g., through being stressful, facilitating infection transmission, etc.). In this paper, we add a new dimension to the emerging field of mass gatherings medicine. Drawing on psychological research concerning group processes, we consider the psychological transformations that occur when people become part of a crowd. We then consider how these transformations may have various consequences for health and well-being. Some of these consequences may be positive. For example, a sense of shared identity amongst participants may encourage participants to view others as a source of social support which in turn contributes to a sense of health and well-being. However, some consequences may be negative. Thus, this same sense of shared identity may result in a loss of disgust at the prospect of sharing resources (e.g., drinking utensils) which could, in turn, facilitate infection transmission. These, and related issues, are illustrated with research conducted at the Magh Mela (North India). We conclude with an agenda for future research concerning health practices at mass gatherings.

Copyright
© 2015 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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<Previous Article In Issue
Next Article In Issue>
Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume-Issue
6 - 2
Pages
49 - 57
Publication Date
2015/07/09
ISSN (Online)
2210-6014
ISSN (Print)
2210-6006
DOI
10.1016/j.jegh.2015.06.001How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2015 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Nick Hopkins
AU  - Stephen Reicher
PY  - 2015
DA  - 2015/07/09
TI  - The psychology of health and well-being in mass gatherings: A review and a research agenda
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 49
EP  - 57
VL  - 6
IS  - 2
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jegh.2015.06.001
DO  - 10.1016/j.jegh.2015.06.001
ID  - Hopkins2015
ER  -