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Impact of COVID-19 on Urban Everyday Life in Greece. Perceptions, Experiences and Practices of the Active Population

Author

Listed:
  • Fereniki Vatavali

    (School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, 26225 Patra, Greece)

  • Zoi Gareiou

    (School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, 26225 Patra, Greece)

  • Fotini Kehagia

    (School of Civil Engineering; Division of Transportation and Construction Management, Highway Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Efthimios Zervas

    (School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, 26225 Patra, Greece)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic that erupted in early 2020 has affected the everyday life, the practices, and the perceptions of the global population significantly. The aim of this paper is to investigate the perceptions, experiences, and practices of the active population regarding everyday urban life (working conditions, mobility, urban space, etc.) in the context of the first wave of the pandemic, by focusing on people who live and work in Greek cities. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire addressed to an active population. The majority of respondents declared that their personal and family lives were affected by the lockdown, with significant effects on their professional life and economic activities. Stress and fear were two feelings that increased. As far as mobility was concerned, the majority of respondents were unwilling to change their commuting practices. Although most of our findings presented a homogenous distribution in our sample, some changes in perceptions, experiences, and practices were correlated with the gender, age, and family status of the respondents. The results of the analysis provide useful information to policy makers and show that it is necessary to radically rethink aspects of urban space and urban mobility, in relation to the multiple problems and dynamics of the active population.

Suggested Citation

  • Fereniki Vatavali & Zoi Gareiou & Fotini Kehagia & Efthimios Zervas, 2020. "Impact of COVID-19 on Urban Everyday Life in Greece. Perceptions, Experiences and Practices of the Active Population," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:22:p:9410-:d:443731
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samuelsson, Karl & Barthel, Stephan & Colding, Johan & Macassa, Gloria & Giusti, Matteo, 2020. "Urban nature as a source of resilience during social distancing amidst the coronavirus pandemic," OSF Preprints 3wx5a, Center for Open Science.
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    2. Mouratidis, Kostas, 2021. "How COVID-19 reshaped quality of life in cities: A synthesis and implications for urban planning," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    3. Guadalupe González-Sánchez & María Isabel Olmo-Sánchez & Elvira Maeso-González, 2021. "Challenges and Strategies for Post-COVID-19 Gender Equity and Sustainable Mobility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Eirini Leriou & Andreas Kollias & Anna Anastasopoulou & Aristeidis Katranis, 2022. "Understanding and Measuring Child Well-Being in the Region of Attica, Greece: Round Three," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(4), pages 1295-1311, August.
    5. Lara Bellotti & Sara Zaniboni & Cristian Balducci & Gudela Grote, 2021. "Rapid Review on COVID-19, Work-Related Aspects, and Age Differences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-24, May.
    6. Evgenia Anastasiou & Marie-Noelle Duquenne, 2021. "First-Wave COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece: The Role of Demographic, Social, and Geographical Factors in Life Satisfaction during Lockdown," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-12, May.
    7. Grzegorz Ignatowski & Łukasz Sułkowski & Bartłomiej Stopczyński, 2021. "Risk of Increased Acceptance for Organizational Nepotism and Cronyism during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-35, March.
    8. Zoe Gareiou & Christina Chroni & Karolos Kontoleon & Makram El Bachawati & Marianne Saba & Ruth Herrero Martin & Efthimios Zervas, 2022. "Awareness of Citizens for the Single-Use Plastics: Comparison between a High-Income and an Upper-Middle-Income Economy of the Easter Mediterranean Region, Greece and Lebanon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-35, February.
    9. Maja Socan & Vanja Ida Erčulj, 2022. "Confronting SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Patients’ Experience in the First Pandemic Wave—Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-11, October.
    10. Corazza, Maria Vittoria & Musso, Antonio, 2021. "Urban transport policies in the time of pandemic, and after: An ARDUOUS research agenda," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 31-44.

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