Coping Behaviors in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Essential Workers of Color: Latent Classes and Covariates

This study explores the coping patterns of essential workers of color during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a cross-sectional design, participants ( N = 319) completed an electronic survey and answered questions about 21 coping behaviors between December 2020 and March 2021. Latent class analysis was used to cluster coping behaviors and examine the relationship between class membership and correlates. Five latent classes were identified: (a) business-as-usual; (b) social support, self-care, and distractions; (c) smoking, drinking, and media use; (d) moderately multifaceted; and (e) highly multifaceted. Most participants (43%) clustered within the business-as-usual latent class and had a very low probability of engaging in any of the listed behaviors. Participants (28%) in the social support, self-care, and distractions pattern had moderate-to-high probabilities of reaching out to trusted friends or family and pursuing distractions (e.g., media breaks, media engagement, meditation), along with a moderate probability of efforts to take care of their physical health (e.g., deep breathing, eating well). Participants (13.2%) clustered into the smoking, drinking, and media use pattern had very high probabilities of cigarette and alcohol use, along with a moderate probability of media consumption (e.g., watching television, social media). Next, these classes were examined for relationship with other correlates, such as workplace conditions. Findings support the importance of structural issues, such as workplace requirements for safety and support, that contribute to coping during the COVID-19 crisis. Now is the time to prepare for what comes next and demonstrate a commitment to the human rights of those deemed essential.