Family Rituals and Coping During a Global Pandemic: A Cross-Cultural Comparison

Family rituals may serve as a buffer against stressful situations, particularly non-normative stressors like the COVID-19 pandemic, by facilitating closeness and a sense of togetherness. However, research also suggests that rituals can be a source of added tension, stress, and conflict. The goals of this research were two-fold. We explored the ways families engaged in rituals during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place mandates, in both the United States and Israel, and examined the perceived impact of engagement on the ability to cope. Using survey data from 337 United States and 116 Israeli participants, we conducted a thematic analysis of rituals before (maintained) and during shelter-in-place (developed) followed by hierarchical linear regressions to examine associations between ritual connectedness, perceptions of rituals, and psychological well-being. Results revealed similarities and differences between the countries in the family rituals developed and maintained during shelter-in-place and significant associations between ritual connectedness and perceptions of rituals on psychological well-being. Findings provide a resource for family ritual strategies and extend our understanding of how family ritual engagement may foster or hinder families’ ability to cope during periods of unexpected stress.