Predictors of adherence to public health behaviors for fighting COVID-19 derived from longitudinal data.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

The present paper examines longitudinally how subjective perceptions about COVID-19, one's community, and the government predict adherence to public health measures to reduce the spread of the virus. Using an international survey (N = 3040), we test how infection risk perception, trust in the governmental response and communications about COVID-19, conspiracy beliefs, social norms on distancing, tightness of culture, and community punishment predict various containment-related attitudes and behavior. Autoregressive analyses indicate that, at the personal level, personal hygiene behavior was predicted by personal infection risk perception. At social level, social distancing behaviors such as abstaining from face-to-face contact were predicted by perceived social norms. Support for behavioral mandates was predicted by confidence in the government and cultural tightness, whereas support for anti-lockdown protests was predicted by (lower) perceived clarity of communication about the virus. Results are discussed in light of policy implications and creating effective interventions.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Schumpe, BM; Van Lissa, CJ; Bélanger, JJ; Ruggeri, K; Mierau, J; Nisa, CF; Molinario, E; Gelfand, MJ; Stroebe, W; Agostini, M; Gützkow, B; Jeronimus, BF; Kreienkamp, J; Kutlaca, M; Lemay, EP; Reitsema, AM; vanDellen, MR; Abakoumkin, G; Abdul Khaiyom, JH; Ahmedi, V; Akkas, H; Almenara, CA; Atta, M; Bagci, SC; Basel, S; Berisha Kida, E; Bernardo, ABI; Buttrick, NR; Chobthamkit, P; Choi, H-S; Cristea, M; Csaba, S; Damnjanović, K; Danyliuk, I; Dash, A; Di Santo, D; Douglas, KM; Enea, V; Faller, D; Fitzsimons, GJ; Gheorghiu, A; Gómez, Á; Hamaidia, A; Han, Q; Helmy, M; Hudiyana, J; Jiang, D-Y; Jovanović, V; Kamenov, Z; Kende, A; Keng, S-L; Kieu, TTT; Koc, Y; Kovyazina, K; Kozytska, I; Krause, J; Kruglanski, AW; Kurapov, A; Lantos, NA; Lesmana, CBJ; Louis, WR; Lueders, A; Malik, NI; Martinez, AP; McCabe, KO; Mehulić, J; Milla, MN; Mohammed, I; Moyano, M; Muhammad, H; Mula, S; Muluk, H; Myroniuk, S; Najafi, R; Nyúl, B; O'Keefe, PA; Olivas Osuna, JJ; Osin, EN; Park, J; Pica, G; Pierro, A; Rees, JH; Resta, E; Rullo, M; Ryan, MK; Samekin, A; Santtila, P; Sasin, E; Selim, HA; Stanton, MV; Sultana, S; Sutton, RM; Tseliou, E; Utsugi, A; van Breen, JA; Van Veen, K; Vázquez, A; Wollast, R; Yeung, VW-L; Zand, S; Žeželj, IL; Zheng, B; Zick, A; Zúñiga, C; Leander, NP

Published Date

  • March 2022

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 12 / 1

Start / End Page

  • 3824 -

PubMed ID

  • 35264597

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC8907248

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 2045-2322

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 2045-2322

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1038/s41598-021-04703-9

Language

  • eng