Violating social distancing amid the COVID‐19 pandemic: Psychological factors to improve compliance

Self-reported chronic conditions and COVID-19 public health measures among Canadian adults: an analysis of the Canadian longitudinal study on aging

OBJECTIVES

During the COVID-19 pandemic, public health measures were used to reduce the spread of COVID-19; it is unknown whether people with chronic conditions differentially adhered to public health measures. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the association between chronic conditions and adherence and to explore effect modification by sex, age, and income.

STUDY DESIGN

An analysis of data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging COVID-19 Questionnaires (from April to September 2020) was conducted among middle-aged and older adults aged 50-96 years (n = 28,086).

METHODS

Self-reported chronic conditions included lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity, anxiety, and depression. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between chronic conditions and low, medium, and high levels of adherence. Effect modification was evaluated using statistical interaction and stratification.

RESULTS

Most people (n = 17,435; 62%) had at least one chronic condition, and 2866 (10%) had three to seven chronic conditions. Among those with high adherence to public health measures, 69% had one or more chronic condition (n = 2266). Having three to seven chronic conditions, compared with none, was associated with higher adherence to public health measures (OR: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.12-1.42). Higher adherence was also noted across chronic conditions, for example, those with diabetes had higher adherence (OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.53-1.93). There was limited evidence of effect modification by sex, age, or income.

CONCLUSIONS

Canadians with chronic conditions were more likely to adhere to public health measures; however, future research is needed to understand whether adherence helped to prevent adverse COVID-19 outcomes and if adherence had unintended consequences.

Parent-Child Associations in COVID-19-Related Preventive Behaviors and Efficacy Expectations: A One-Year Longitudinal Survey

PURPOSE

It is necessary to identify the variables that explain the variance in preventive behaviors against COVID-19 to increase adolescents' engagement in these behaviors. We focused on efficacy expectations of preventive behaviors and their associations within families. This study examined the associations between efficacy expectations and preventive behaviors, and between adolescents and their parents in terms of efficacy expectations and preventive behaviors.

METHODS

A cross-lagged panel model was employed to analyze 281 parent-child pairs consisting of 245 children (118 girls, mean age = 17.4 years), 277 mothers (median age = 49.3 years), and 211 fathers (median age = 51.5 years). Participants completed the Prevention of COVID-19 Infection Scale at baseline (October 2020 to April 2021) and one-year follow-up to assess efficacy expectations and preventive behaviors for sanitization, contact, and hoarding factors.

RESULTS

Efficacy expectations of preventive behaviors at baseline were positively associated with preventive behaviors at one-year follow-up regarding the sanitization and contact factors. Additionally, for parents, efficacy expectations of preventive behaviors at baseline were positively associated with subsequent preventive behaviors regarding the hoarding factor. Parental efficacy expectation scores for contact at baseline were positively associated with their children's scores at one-year follow-up.

DISCUSSION

The findings highlight the association between parental efficacy expectations at an initial time point and adolescents' efficacy expectations at one-year follow-up toward COVID-19 preventive measures, particularly contact-related behaviors. These insights can inform public health interventions targeting individual expectations and parental involvement to promote effective preventive practices during future health crises.

"Oh no, they caught it!": Vicarious experience of COVID-19, protection motivation and protective behaviors

Utilizing the components of the protection motivation theory, this study investigated the role of close others' diagnosis of COVID-19 (as a vicarious experience) in individuals' adherence to protective behavior against COVID-19. Path analysis of online survey data from 3695 participants showed that the presence of a diagnosed close other was positively related to perceived vulnerability, while being negatively related to perceived response efficacy and self-efficacy. In addition, perceived severity and efficacy appraisals were positively associated with protective behavioral tendencies. Although efficacy appraisal mediated the relationship between vicarious experience and protective behavior, threat appraisal did not mediate this relationship. In sum, the results suggest that efficacy appraisal derived from vicarious experiences can be more consequential for protective behaviors than threat appraisal. Implications of these results on future large-scale health crises are discussed along with limitations and future directions.

Social Distancing in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associated Factors, Health Outcomes, and Implications

Social distancing has reemerged as a public health measure for containing the spread of COVID-19. This integrative review aims to analyze the historical use of social distancing, the current application during COVID-19, individual factors that affect social distancing practices, and consequential health outcomes. We analyzed relevant literature from searches conducted on Scopus, PubMed, and PsycINFO. We found that resources, culture, age, gender, and personality are associated with the degree to which people practice social distancing. Furthermore, social distancing changes our lifestyles and behavior and results in multifaceted health outcomes, including decreased physical activity and sunlight exposure, increased weight gain, and impaired sleep quality. On the positive side, social distancing has been linked to reduced crime rates and environmental damage, as well as better social and family ties. Future interventions may be utilized to increase adherence to social distancing practices and to mitigate the negative health effects of social distancing.

A Cross-Sectional Study and Observational Assessment of Shoppers' COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors in Southwestern Ontario, Canada

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to observe the level of alcohol-based sanitizer, mask use, and physical distancing across indoor community settings in Guelph, ON, Canada, and to identify potential barriers to practicing these behaviors.

METHODS

Shoppers were observed in June 2022 across 21 establishments. Discrete in-person observations were conducted and electronically recorded using smartphones. Multilevel logistic regression models were fitted to identify possible covariates for the 3 behavioral outcomes.

RESULTS

Of 946 observed shoppers, 69% shopped alone, 72% had at least 1 hand occupied, 26% touched their face, 29% physically distanced ≥ 2 m, 6% used hand sanitizer, and 29% wore masks. Sanitizer use was more commonly observed among people who wore masks and in establishments with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) signage posted at the entrance. Mask use was more commonly observed during days without precipitation and in establishments with some or all touch-free entrances. Shoppers more commonly physically distanced ≥ 2 m when they were shopping alone.

CONCLUSIONS

This supports evidence for environmental context influencing COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Intervention efforts aimed at visible signage, tailored messaging, and redesigning spaces to facilitate preventive behaviors may be effective at increasing adherence during outbreaks.

Predicting Compliance with Sanitary Behaviors among Students in Higher Education During the Second COVID-19 Wave: The Role of Health Anxiety and Risk Perception

To limit the spread of COVID-19, public authorities have recommended sanitary behaviors such as handwashing, mask-wearing, physical distancing, and social distancing. We recruited a large sample of higher education students in Belgium (N = 3201-3441) to investigate the role of sociodemographic variables, mental health, previous COVID-19 infections, academic involvement, and risk perception on adherence to these sanitary behaviors. This cross-sectional study took place during the second COVID-19 wave in Belgium, between February and March 2021. Analyses showed that living alone, being female, later in the academic curriculum, having higher general and health anxiety, higher academic involvement, and higher risk perception were positively associated with adherence to the four aforementioned sanitary behaviors. Conversely, previous infection with COVID-19 and having been quarantined were negative predictors. Our results show a set of predictors highly similar for the four sanitary behaviors. We discuss potential initiatives to increase adherence to sanitary behaviors in this group of highly educated youngsters.

The influence of social norms varies with "others" groups: Evidence from COVID-19 vaccination intentions

The theory that health behaviors spread through social groups implies that efforts to control COVID-19 through vaccination will succeed if people believe that others in their groups are getting vaccinated. But "others" can refer to many groups, including one's family, neighbors, fellow city or state dwellers, or copartisans. One challenge to examining these understudied distinctions is that many factors may confound observed relationships between perceived social norms (what people believe others do) and intended behaviors (what people themselves will do), as there are plausible common causes for both. We address these issues using survey data collected in the United States during late fall 2020 (n = 824) and spring 2021 (n = 996) and a matched design that approximates pair-randomized experiments. We find a strong relationship between perceived vaccination social norms and vaccination intentions when controlling for real risk factors (e.g., age), as well as dimensions known to predict COVID-19 preventive behaviors (e.g., trust in scientists). The strength of the relationship declines as the queried social group grows larger and more heterogeneous. The relationship for copartisans is second in magnitude to that of family and friends among Republicans but undetectable for Democrats. Sensitivity analysis shows that these relationships could be explained away only by an unmeasured variable with large effects (odds ratios between 2 and 15) on social norms perceptions and vaccination intentions. In addition, a prediction from the "false consensus" view that intentions cause perceived social norms is not supported. We discuss the implications for public health policy and understanding social norms.

The Roles of Health and e-Health Literacy, Conspiracy Beliefs and Political Sympathy in the Adherence to Preventive Measures Recommended during the Pandemic

Adherence to preventive measures is of the utmost importance for limiting the spreading of the coronavirus. Many predictors of adopting preventive behaviors have been analyzed in different countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: The study’s main aim was to assess the roles of health (HL) and e-health literacy (eHL), conspiracy beliefs, political sympathy, and religious practices in the adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. The analysis was based on the data obtained from a survey conducted among 2410 adult Internet users in Poland in October 2020. The survey was performed with a computer-assisted web-based interviewing technique. Survey data were analyzed through uni- and multivariable linear regression models. The multivariable regression model revealed that after adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the preventive measures score (PMS) was significantly associated with HL (B = 0.04, p < 0.001), eHL (B = 0.03, p < 0.001) and the COVID-19-related conspiracy beliefs score (C19CBS) (B = −0.24, p < 0.001). There was also a significant statistical relationship between PMS and political sympathies and religious practices. HL and eHL are key factors eligible for modification through appropriate interventions and showing positive effects in compliance with preventive measures. Conspiracy beliefs, political sympathy and religious beliefs are independently associated with the adherence.

Us and the Virus

Abstract. From a social psychological perspective, the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated protective measures affected individuals’ social relations and basic psychological needs. We aim to identify sources of need frustration (stressors) and possibilities to bolster need satisfaction (buffers). Particularly, we highlight emerging empirical research in which social psychological theorizing can contribute to our understanding of the pandemic’s social consequences: Loneliness, social networks, role conflicts, social identity, compliance, trust, reactance, and conspiracy beliefs. We highlight directions for future social psychological research as the pandemic continues.