Modeling Perception of Post-COVID Community Resilience by Citizens of Shanghai, Wuhan, and Guangzhou, China

What factors underlie the rapid recovery of social order in China despite the recurring pandemic? Many studies have discussed China’s swift, accurate responses but failed to grasp the mechanism of crisis learning and community resilience at the local level. To bridge this gap, a structural equation model was developed to measure perceived community resilience in Shanghai, Wuhan, and Guangzhou, where local governance was prominent. Using data collected from residents through surveys in January 2024, results indicate a significant correlation between crisis learning and post-COVID community resilience. By controlling covariates of demographic factors, emergency personnel, and coping experiences, the whole model contributed to 73.5%, 76.3%, and 68.2% of the variance. This research sheds light on the crisis-coping agency of citizens when confronted with heavy workloads and frequent regulatory shifts. It also depreciates the bias that urban communities in metropolises rely on outside aid but are much too passive when confronted by persistent crises. Suggestions for policymakers emphasize the diversity of crisis-coping personnel at the community level and a safety culture that permits community managerial error to be corrected along with citizens.