Social Context of Social Adjustment to Changing Norms and Values Among Residents of Ekiti State in the Era of COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak birthed preventive norms across the globe with stringent adherence for the survival of every person in the society. The social context of social adjustment of the people becomes germane in understanding the social cost of COVID-19 on behavioural shifts in the society. A cross-sectional online survey through the use of semi-structured questionnaire was adopted to collect data from respondents. The study utilized non-probability convenience sampling procedure to sample 184 respondents from the general public who reside in any of the sixteen local government areas (LGA) of Ekiti State. The data gathered were analysed using descriptive statistics. 85% of the respondents showed conscious awareness of COVID-19 related preventive measures which range from government-enforced preventive measures to self-improvised preventive measures. A significant number (+38.7%) of respondents experienced a shift in routine lifestyles that interferes with closed and knitted group interactions. Besides, findings revealed that Ekiti State residents identified both positive and negative social cost as rewards of adhering to COVID-19 preventive measures. The study concludes that the preventive measures of COVID-19 enforced on residents became a norm for the survival of the people, and also the embedded disparity of social inequalities in the society is a predictor of low social adjustment to the emerging trend of virtual technologies in the society. Therefore, in the advent of future pandemics, government should provide good preventive strategies that will not create more gaps of inequality.Ethical Approval: The study considered the consent of respondents and treated their responses with utmost confidentiality, privacy and anonymity.Funding: No funding or grant support was received to conduct this studyDeclaration of Interest: The authors declare no conflicting interest