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Mapping Social Cohesion 2022

Australian social cohesion strengthened across a range of indicators during the COVID-19 crisis, but results from the latest survey suggest that boost in social cohesion is wearing off.

The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute’s 2022 Mapping Social Cohesion Report explores how we’re responding to current national and global challenges and highlights the key social cohesion issues emerging across Australia, post-pandemic.

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2022 in review

Belonging and pride

National belonging and pride decline to all time lows, but neighbourhood connections remain strong

Immigration and multiculturalism

Already strong support for multiculturalism and immigration surges to new heights

The economy, social inclusion and justice

Climate of economic and geopolitical uncertainty leads to tipping point for Australian social cohesion

2022 marks our sixteenth survey, the largest ever in the Mapping Social Cohesion series

Administered to members of the Social Research Centre’s Life in Australia™ Panel, the survey was conducted in July 2022 and collected the views of almost 5,800 respondents. It contained more than 90 questions on social cohesion and related topics, including immigration, multiculturalism, major issues facing Australia, government and community life.

This year’s larger sample provides substantial new power, not only to understand and track social cohesion at a national level, but also to analyse individual and group level experiences and drivers of social cohesion.

As in past years, social cohesion is measured on five key domains:

  • belonging (the sense of pride and belonging people have in Australia and in Australian life and culture);
  • worth (the degree of emotional and material wellbeing);
  • social inclusion and justice (perceptions of economic fairness and trust in government);
  • participation (involvement in political activities); and,
  • acceptance and rejection (attitudes to immigrant diversity, support for minorities and experience of discrimination).

In this year’s report, new information is also provided on the extent of belonging people feel in their neighbourhoods and their participation in social, community and civic activities.

Social cohesion in Australia withstood the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic remarkably well, but latest survey data shows that boost in social cohesion is now wearing off.

The 2022 Mapping Social Cohesion Report provides critical new information on how the national mood is shifting as Australia emerges from the pandemic and navigates new national and global challenges.

Belonging and pride

The degree to which we feel a sense of belonging and connectedness in our neighbourhoods has been high and growing since the start of the pandemic. However, our sense of national pride and belonging are declining and are now at their lowest levels since 2007. How do we draw on the strengths of our neighbourhoods to improve national cohesion?

Following a boost to national belonging during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportions of people reporting a great ‘sense of belonging in Australia’ fell to 52 per cent in 2022, significantly less than in 2018.

Feel a sense of belonging in Australia

Similarly, the proportion of people who take ‘great pride in the Australian way of life and culture’, and the proportion of people who strongly agree that ‘in the modern world, maintaining the Australian way of life and culture is important’ fell to below pre-pandemic levels.

Other indicators of national belonging

Since the Mapping Social Cohesion survey began, responses to three questions relating to national belonging (above) have made up the survey’s ‘index of belonging’ – an overall belonging score that’s tracked each year.
The below graph shows how that belonging index has steadily declined over the last 15 years, reaching its lowest ever point in 2022.

The decline in national pride and belonging over time is widely felt across society. Australian-born and foreign-born populations, young and old, and affluent and lower-socioeconomic groups have all recorded declining belonging.

This is likely partly the product of society-wide changes in social and cultural norms, and not necessarily a cause for alarm. However, a disproportionate decline in sense of belonging among young adults and those who are financially struggling is a concern.
“Even back in 2009, younger adults and people suffering financial stress had lower levels of belonging than older and more affluent people. But that gap is much wider in 2022. The widening gap by age may reflect changing norms and values around national identity among young adults. But the widening gap by financial situation may indicate that economic inequalities are giving rise to increasingly strong social inequalities in Australia.”
– Dr James O’Donnell, 2022 Mapping Social Cohesion Report author
Feel a sense of belonging in Australia to ‘a great extent’

2009 vs. 2022 by age

2009 vs. 2022 by financial situation

In stark contrast to record-low levels of national belonging, at a local level, the belonging that people feel in their neighbourhoods in 2022 is very strong.

In last year’s survey, and again this year, we asked new questions about people’s sense of belonging at personal and local levels. The sense of neighbourhood belonging has remained strong over the last 12 months.

Substantial majorities in 2022 agree or strongly agree that they belong in their neighbourhood (82 per cent in 2022) and that their neighbourhood has a strong sense of community (66 per cent in 2022), while almost everyone (98 per cent) feels safe at home during the day.

82%

Strongly agree/agree that they belong in their neighbourhood

66%

Strongly agree/agree that neighbourhood has a strong sense of community

98%

Feel very safe/fairly safe at home

The strengthening of local and interpersonal ties during the pandemic is likely to be a great asset for Australia in managing future threats to social cohesion.

“People who live in cohesive neighbourhoods have a greater sense of belonging, worth, and social inclusion and justice in Australia. This suggests that if nurtured and maintained, the strengthening of neighbourhood cohesion may help to improve national-level social cohesion.”
– Dr James O’Donnell, 2022 Mapping Social Cohesion Report author

Immigration and multiculturalism

Australia’s population-wide support for multiculturalism is high and growing, and it is an enormous advantage in responding to the pressures placed on social cohesion.
Australians’ support for immigration and multiculturalism has been high since the Scanlon surveys began, but has grown significantly in recent years.
The proportion of people who agree or strongly agree that ‘accepting immigrants from many different countries makes Australia stronger jumped from 63 per cent in 2018 to 78 per cent in 2022. Similarly, the proportion of people who agree or strongly agree that ‘immigrants are good for Australia’s economy,’ increased from 74 per cent in 2018 to 87 per cent of people in 2022.

The impact of immigration

Immigrants are increasingly perceived to integrate well into Australian society and are less likely to be seen as a threat, with an increasing proportion of people disagreeing or strongly disagreeing that ‘too many immigrants are not adopting Australian values,’ and that ‘immigrants take jobs away.’
When asked if ‘someone who was born outside of Australia is just as likely to be a good citizen as someone born in Australia,’ there is overwhelming agreement (94% in 2022, up from 90% in July 2020). The proportion who strongly agree increased significantly from 40% to 47% over the same period.

Someone who was born outside of Australia is just as likely to be a good citizen as someone born in Australia

Positive attitudes towards diversity and multiculturalism are reflected in questions relating to active intercultural relations.

For example, the proportion of people who agree or strongly agree with the statement ‘we should do more to learn about the customs and heritage of different ethnic and cultural groups in the country’ increased from 59 per cent in 2018 to 69 per cent in 2022.

Another powerful indicator of successful multiculturalism in the community is the number of friendships people have with people from different backgrounds.

81 per cent of people in the 2022 survey say they have two or more people in their ‘close circle of friends’ who come from ‘national, ethnic, or religious backgrounds’ different to their own, while 40 per cent said they have five or more such friends.

81%

have two or more people in their ‘close circle of friends’ who come from ‘national, ethnic, or religious backgrounds’ different to their own.

40%

have five or more people in their ‘close circle of friends’ who come from ‘national, ethnic, or religious backgrounds’ different to their own.
Support for multiculturalism and immigration varies across demographic groups, older and lower-educated people and those who say they are financially struggling are less likely to support diversity. However, agreement has increased over time among all groups and particularly among people aged 65 and older.

Accepting immigrants from many different countries makes Australia stronger, proportion of population who agree/strongly agree, 2018 and 2022

“In a world in which immigration continues to be a source of social division, our history of and public support for multiculturalism is a great asset to Australia, potentially insulating us from deeper divisions.”
– Dr James O’Donnell, 2022 Mapping Social Cohesion Report author

The economy, social inclusion and justice

A climate of economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability are giving rise to social and economic inequalities that are weighing heavily on Australians in 2022.
The impact of economic uncertainty and the rising cost of living is evident throughout 2022 survey findings.
When asked the open-ended question, ‘What’s the biggest problem facing Australia today?’ economic issues – including those related to unemployment, jobs, poverty, and the deficit – dominated responses, mentioned by 39 per cent, or two-in-five people in 2022.

The top five most important problems facing Australia, 2011 to 2018 (telephone surveys) and 2018 to 2022 (online and telephone)

This is the largest share of the population citing economic issues since this question was first asked in 2022, reflecting the prevalence and importance of economic pressures for Australians in 2022.
In a new question in 2022 which asked people about their level of concern in relation to possible global threats to Australia, three-quarters of Australians (76 per cent) were either very concerned or quite concerned about a severe downturn in the global economy. Only 1 per cent were not concerned at all about a downturn.
The impact of cost-of-living pressures is further evidenced by an increase in financial stress and a decline in financial satisfaction in 2022.
The combined proportion of people who describe themselves as ‘poor, struggling to pay their bills, or just getting along’ significantly increased from 31 per cent to 37 per cent in the last year. Similarly, the proportion who are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their financial situation increased from 29 per cent to 35 per cent.

Financial situation

Scores on the social inclusion and justice index – which reflect the degree to which people feel that social, economic, and political opportunities and outcomes in society are fair and equitable – peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Australian public responded positively to government measures to protect health and financial wellbeing. However, renewed concerns about economic inequality contributed to a sharp decline across these measures in 2022.
The proportion who strongly agree with the statement, ‘Australia is a land of economic opportunity where in the long run, hard work brings a better life’ declined to 14% in 2022, significantly smaller than it was both before and during the height of the pandemic.

Australia is a land of economic opportunity where in the long run, hard work brings a better life

Significantly smaller proportions of people in 2022 also disagree or strongly disagree that the gap in incomes in Australia is too large (18 per cent), compared to the previous two surveys (22 per cent), though levels of disagreement are not significantly different to pre-pandemic levels.

Across a wide range of questions, 2022 findings demonstrate how financial stress and economic inequality have a very important bearing on overall social cohesion.

“Financial wellbeing is the strongest predictor of social cohesion identified in the survey. People who are financially struggling and pessimistic about the future report substantially lower levels of national pride and belonging, happiness, and social inclusion.

Economic inequalities, exacerbated by the current economic climate, therefore appear to be compounding social inequalities that, in turn, drag down overall social cohesion in Australia.”

– Dr James O’Donnell, 2022 Mapping Social Cohesion Report author

On top of economic concerns, there are relatively high levels of concern across the community in relation to other global threats discussed in the survey.

Three-quarters of people are at least quite concerned about Australia-China relations, while more than half of the population are concerned about climate change (69 per cent) COVID-19 and other potential pandemics (62 per cent), and a military conflict involving Australia (54 per cent).
Among the five threats discussed in the survey, people are most likely to be very concerned about climate change (41 per cent).
Looking at overall social cohesion index scores by degree of concern for global threats, we begin to see the extent to which attitudes to major issues relate to broader social cohesion.
For example, people who are at least quite concerned about climate change have a significantly lower sense of belonging in Australia, a lower sense of worth, and a lower sense of social inclusion and justice than people who are at most only slightly concerned. On the other hand, they are more strongly engaged in politics and are substantially more accepting of difference and diversity in Australia.
Climate change, therefore, continues to be a socially and politically polarising issue in Australia – with important implications for social cohesion.
“Polarised views on major issues like climate change – and the public and political debate surrounding them – have the potential to strain emotional, psychological, and behavioural ties across Australian society, therefore impacting overall social cohesion.”
– Dr James O’Donnell, 2022 Mapping Social Cohesion Report author
“Social cohesion in Australia increased during the pandemic but is now declining. As we readjust to life after the pandemic, we are at a crucial tipping point where we can solidify and strengthen social cohesion or allow it to further weaken.”
– Dr James O’Donnell, 2022 Mapping Social Cohesion Report author

Conclusion

Australia experienced a sharp increase in social cohesion during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The boost is indicative of the way Australians came together in the face of the pandemic and generally responded positively to government efforts to protect our health and well-being.

As the community and government response to the pandemic is scaled back, it is not unexpected that the level of cohesion is also scaled back. This year’s findings may therefore signal a return to a pre-pandemic normal – a not unwelcome position given the historically cohesiveness nature of Australian society.

Nevertheless, there are indicators throughout this year’s report that suggest that a return to pre-pandemic normality is not inevitable.

On the positive side, indicators of interpersonal trust and neighbourhood cohesion remain high and resilient in 2022, while support for multiculturalism and diversity is high and continuing to grow. These trends possibly reflect a lasting benefit of the way in which communities came together in response to the crisis. There remains a great opportunity, therefore, to learn from what was done well during the pandemic – and what was done poorly – to maintain a stronger and more cohesive Australia post pandemic.

Alternatively, and if not adequately addressed, the recent decline in cohesion may represent the start of a longer-term decline. Social cohesion is emerging as a key issue for countries around the world, amidst global challenges concerning the economy and the cost of living, social inequality, political division, and geopolitical instability. This year’s survey findings demonstrate Australia is not immune to global trends, with social and economic inequalities having a significant impact on social cohesion in Australia in 2022.

At this critical juncture, evidence points to the need for community and government efforts to address these inequalities and seize the wider benefit to social cohesion in doing so. Through such efforts, we can imagine an ever stronger and more cohesive Australia in coming years.

Interested in diving deeper into this report?

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Media enquiries:

Alice Suter  |  alice@think-hq.com.au  |  (03) 9682 0259

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