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Melchiorre MG, Cerea S, Socci M, Lamura G. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on frail older people ageing in place alone in two Italian cities: Functional limitations, care arrangements and available services. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298074. [PMID: 38489312 PMCID: PMC10942073 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The study aimed to explore and compare effects of lockdown, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, on frail older people living alone at home in Brescia and Ancona, two urban cities located respectively in Northern and Central Italy. This country was the Western epicenter of the first wave of the pandemic (February-May 2020), which affected the two cities differently as for infections, with a more severe impact on the former. A follow-up study of the IN-AGE research project (2019) was carried out in July-September 2020, by means of telephone interviews, involving 41 respondents. Semi-structured questions focused on the effects of the first wave of the pandemic on their mobility and functional limitations, available care arrangements, and access to health services. The lockdown and social distancing measures overall negatively impacted on frail older people living alone, to a different extent in Ancona and Brescia, with a better resilience of home care services in Brescia, and a greater support from the family in Ancona, where however major problems in accessing health services also emerged. Even though the study was exploratory only, with a small sample that cannot be considered as representative of the population, and despite differences between the two cities, findings overall suggested that enhancing home care services, and supporting older people in accessing health services, could allow ageing in place, especially in emergency times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gabriella Melchiorre
- Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, Ancona, Italy
| | - Stefania Cerea
- Social Policy Laboratory, Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Polytechnic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Socci
- Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Lamura
- Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, Ancona, Italy
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Martin-Lapoirie D, McColl K, Gallopel-Morvan K, Arwidson P, Raude J. Health protective behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: Risk adaptation or habituation? Soc Sci Med 2024; 342:116531. [PMID: 38194726 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Many epidemiological works show that human behaviours play a fundamental role in the spread of infectious diseases. However, we still do not know much about how people modify their Health Protective Behaviours (HPB), such as hygiene or social distancing measures, over time in response to the health threat during an epidemic. In this study, we examined the role of the epidemiological context in engagement in HPB through two possible mechanisms highlighted by research into decision-making under risk: risk adaptation and risk habituation. These two different mechanisms were assumed to explain to a large extent the temporal variations in the public's responsiveness to the health threat during the COVID-19 pandemic. To test them, we used self-reported data collected through a series of 25 cross-sectional surveys conducted in France among representative samples of the adult population, from March 2020 to September 2021 (N = 50,019). Interestingly, we found that both mechanisms accounted relatively well for the temporal variation in the adoption of social distancing during the pandemic, which is remarkable given their different assumptions about the underlying social cognitive processes involved in response to a health threat. These results suggest that strengthening the incentives to encourage people to maintain health protective behaviours and to counter risk habituation effects is crucial to disease control and prevention over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Martin-Lapoirie
- Centre d'Économie de la Sorbonne, CNRS, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Paris, France.
| | - Kathleen McColl
- EHESP, CNRS, Inserm, Arènes - UMR 6051, RSMS (Recherche sur les Services et Management en Santé) - U 1309, Université de Rennes, Rennes, France.
| | - Karine Gallopel-Morvan
- EHESP, CNRS, Inserm, Arènes - UMR 6051, RSMS (Recherche sur les Services et Management en Santé) - U 1309, Université de Rennes, Rennes, France.
| | - Pierre Arwidson
- Direction de la Prévention de la Santé, Santé Publique France, Saint-Maurice, France.
| | - Jocelyn Raude
- EHESP, CNRS, Inserm, Arènes - UMR 6051, RSMS (Recherche sur les Services et Management en Santé) - U 1309, Université de Rennes, Rennes, France.
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Leese J, Therrien S, Ramachandran S, Backman CL, Ma JK, Koehn CL, Hoens AM, English K, Davidson E, McQuitty S, Gavin J, Adams J, Li LC. Decision-Making Around COVID-19 Public Health Measures and Implications for Self-Care Activities: Experiences of Persons With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2024; 76:140-152. [PMID: 37870115 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to advance understanding of how persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience decision-making about adopting public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Persons living with RA partnered throughout this nested qualitative study. One-to-one semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with participants with RA between December 2020 and December 2021. They were strategically sampled from a randomized controlled trial that was underway to test a physical activity counseling intervention. Analysis was guided by reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS Thirty-nine participants (aged 26-86 years; 36 women) in British Columbia, Canada were interviewed. We developed three themes. Participants described how their decision-making about public health measures related to 1) "upholding moral values of togetherness" because decisions were intertwined with moral values of neighborliness and reciprocity. Some adapted their self-care routines to uphold these moral values; 2) "relational autonomy-supports and challenges," because they sometimes felt supported and undermined in different relational settings (eg, by family, local community, or provincial government); and 3) "differing trust in information sources," in which decisions were shaped by the degree of faith they had in various information sources, including their rheumatologists. CONCLUSION Across themes, experiences of decision-making about public health measures during the pandemic were embedded with moral concepts of solidarity, autonomy, and trust, with implications for how persons with RA chose and sustained their self-care activities. Insights gained help sensitize researchers and clinicians to moral issues experienced by persons with RA, which may inform support for self-care activities during and after the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Leese
- Arthritis Research Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Smruthi Ramachandran
- Arthritis Research Canada and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Catherine L Backman
- Arthritis Research Canada and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jasmin K Ma
- Arthritis Research Canada and University of British Columbia and International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Cheryl L Koehn
- Arthritis Consumer Experts, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alison M Hoens
- Arthritis Research Canada and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kelly English
- Arthritis Research Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Eileen Davidson
- Arthritis Research Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shanon McQuitty
- Arthritis Research Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Jo Adams
- University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Linda C Li
- Arthritis Research Canada and University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Bayrak F, Aktar B, Aydas B, Yilmaz O, Alper S, Isler O. Effective health communication depends on the interaction of message source and content: two experiments on adherence to COVID-19 measures in Türkiye. Psychol Health 2023:1-30. [PMID: 37990468 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2023.2285445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Following the COVID-19 outbreak, authorities recommended preventive measures to reduce infection rates. However, adherence to calls varied between individuals and across cultures. To determine the characteristics of effective health communication, we investigated three key features: message source, content, and audience. METHODS Using a pre-test and two experiments, we tested how message content (emphasizing personal or social benefit), audience (individual differences), message source (scientists or state officials), and their interaction influence adherence to preventive measures. Using fliers advocating preventive measures, Experiment 1 investigated the effects of message content and examined the moderator role of individual differences. Experiment 2 presented the messages using news articles and manipulated sources. RESULTS Study 1 found decreasing adherence over time, with no significant impact from message content or individual differences. Study 2 found messages emphasizing 'protect yourself' and 'protect your country' to increase intentions for adherence to preventive measures. It also revealed an interaction between message source and content whereby messages emphasizing personal benefit were more effective when they came from healthcare professionals than from state officials. However, message source and content did not affect vaccination intentions or donations for vaccine research. CONCLUSION Effective health communication requires simultaneous consideration of message source and content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatih Bayrak
- Department of Psychology, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Bengi Aktar
- Department of Psychology, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Psychology, Kadir Has University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Berke Aydas
- Department of Psychology, Kadir Has University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Psychology, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Onurcan Yilmaz
- Department of Psychology, Kadir Has University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sinan Alper
- Department of Psychology, Yasar University, Bornova, Turkey
| | - Ozan Isler
- School of Economics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Li CY, Yin J, Chen L. Impact of social distancing on disease transmission risk in the context of a pandemic. Phys Rev E 2023; 108:054115. [PMID: 38115525 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.108.054115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Changes in pedestrian dynamics caused by social distancing policies place new demands on pedestrian motion modeling during the pandemic. This study summarizes pedestrian movement characteristics during the pandemic, based on which, the traditional floor-field cellular automata model was improved by introducing two floor fields related to pedestrian density to simulate social distancing in crowded places. Especially, the cumulative density field guides pedestrians in route selection, thereby compensating for the limitation of the previous models in which only local repulsion was considered. By selecting an appropriate combination of parameters, the desired social distancing behavior can be observed. Then, the rationality of our model is verified by the fundamental diagram. Moreover, to assess the influences of social distancing on the risk of disease transmission, we considered both person-person transmission and environment-person transmission. The simulation results show that although social distancing is effective in preventing interpersonal transmission, an increase in environmental transmission may somewhat offset this effect. We also examined the influence of individual motion heterogeneity on infection spread and found that the containment was the best when only patients complied with the social distancing restriction. The trade-off between safety and efficiency associated with social distancing was also initially explored in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-Yao Li
- School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
| | - Jie Yin
- School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410075, China
| | - Liang Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Traffic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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Takebayashi M, Kaneda Y, Namba M, Yamashiro A, Takebayashi K. Assessing Hand Sanitizer Usage in Japanese Elderly Day Care Centers: An Observational and Interventional Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e46834. [PMID: 37954735 PMCID: PMC10636710 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Hand hygiene is a vital preventive measure against the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Though older people are at high risk of infection of COVID-19, there is still a lack of verification of hand sanitization and effective interventions to promote its implementation for older people. This study aimed to validate what kind of intervention can effectively promote hand hygiene among elderly individuals in Japanese day care centers, based on the hypothesis that a particular nudge will significantly promote hand hygiene. Methods We designed two types of interventions that have aspects of the nudge concept based on WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care. The study was conducted with one-week observation and intervention periods excluding weekends, starting on February 11, 2023. Three groups were defined as follows: control (installation of hand sanitizer dispenser with a basic sign), reminder (additional visual cues using yellow curing tape), and institutional safety (sign appealing to protecting institutional safety by using hand sanitizer). Daily hand sanitizer usage was measured, and statistical analysis was performed using a one-way ANOVA for the number of uses before and after intervention. Results During the observation period, the average number of hand sanitizer pushes per person remained at 0.39 across all facilities. During the intervention period, control, reminder, and institutional safety groups showed increases of 1.13-fold, 1.31-fold, and 1.16-fold, respectively, revealing no significant difference. Conclusions Though these nudges were implemented according to WHO guidelines and the previous study, the older users of day care centers seemed not to react to these nudges significantly. The results underscore the need for tailored interventions to improve hand hygiene among the elderly in day care settings, contributing to the overall goal of preventing infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Takebayashi
- Sociology, Aomori University, Aomori, JPN
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Aomori University of Health and Welfare, Aomori, JPN
| | | | | | - Akimi Yamashiro
- Nutrition Science, Shokei Gakuin University, Natori, JPN
- Nutrition Science, Sendai Shirayuri Women's College, Sendai, JPN
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Bani VD, Gusti PK, Rawul ME, Pakpahan M, Silitonga E. Nursing students' knowledge and attitude in relation to COVID-19 prevention behavior. Rev Bras Enferm 2023; 76Suppl 1:e20220588. [PMID: 37556676 PMCID: PMC10405395 DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2022-0588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES to determine the correlation between nursing students' level of knowledge and attitudes toward COVID-19 prevention behavior. METHODS a cross-sectional study was carried out at the Private University in Indonesia. Accidental sampling was used to select 188 third-year bachelor's nursing students as respondents. Data collection was conducted through an online questionnaire (Cronbach's Alpha 0.799-0.959) consisting of 27 questions. The data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. RESULTS as many as 49.5 % of respondents had high knowledge, 98.4 % had a positive attitude, and 89.9 % had positive behavior in preventing COVID-19 transmission. The Chi-square test revealed that knowledge has no correlation with COVID-19 prevention behavior (p-value 0.864), but attitude did (p-value 0.027). CONCLUSIONS nursing students' attitudes are related to behavior in preventing COVID-19. Nursing students are expected to maintain positive attitudes and behaviors toward COVID-19 prevention as future health workers at the forefront of health services.
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Nilsen P, Seing I, Sekhon M, Kallemose T, Tjørnhøj-Thomsen T, Stefánsdóttir NT, Vrangbæk K, Andersen O, Kirk JW. Acceptability of restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based survey in Denmark and Sweden. Front Public Health 2023; 11:988882. [PMID: 37601192 PMCID: PMC10434523 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.988882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Denmark and Sweden initially adopted different responses to the COVID-19 pandemic although the two countries share many characteristics. Denmark responded swiftly with many mandatory restrictions. In contrast, Sweden relied on voluntary restrictions and a more "relaxed" response during the first wave of the pandemic. However, increased rates of COVID-19 cases led to a new approach that involved many more mandatory restrictions, thus making Sweden's response similar to Denmark's in the second wave of the pandemic. Aim The aim was to investigate and compare the extent to which the populations in Denmark and Sweden considered the COVID-19 restrictions to be acceptable during the first two waves of the pandemic. The study also aimed to identify the characteristics of those who were least accepting of the restrictions in the two countries. Materials and methods Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Denmark and Sweden in 2021. The study population was sampled from nationally representative web panels in the two countries, consisting of 2,619 individuals from Denmark and 2,633 from Sweden. The questionnaire captured key socio-demographic characteristics. Acceptability was operationalized based on a theoretical framework consisting of seven constructs and one overarching construct. Results The respondents' age and gender patterns were similar in the two countries. The proportion of respondents in Denmark who agreed with the statements ("agree" alternative) that captured various acceptability constructs was generally higher for the first wave than the second wave of the pandemic. The opposite pattern was seen for Sweden. In Denmark, 66% in the first wave and 50% in the second wave were accepting of the restrictions. The corresponding figures for Sweden was 42% (first wave) and 47% (second wave). Low acceptance of the restrictions, defined as the 25% with the lowest total score on the seven acceptability statements, was associated with younger age, male gender and lower education levels. Conclusion Respondents in Sweden were more accepting of the restrictions in the second wave, when the country used many mandatory restrictions. In contrast, respondents in Denmark were more accepting of the restrictions in the first wave than in the second wave, implying an increased weariness to comply with the restrictions over time. There were considerable socio-demographic differences between those who expressed low acceptance of the restrictions and the others in both countries, suggesting the importance of tailoring communication about the pandemic to different segments of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per Nilsen
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Ida Seing
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mandeep Sekhon
- Population Health Research Institute, St George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Kallemose
- Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nina Thórný Stefánsdóttir
- Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Karsten Vrangbæk
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ove Andersen
- Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jeanette Wassar Kirk
- Department of Clinical Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Binter J, Pešout O, Pieniak M, Martínez-Molina J, Noon EJ, Stefanczyk MM, Eder SJ. Predictors and motives for mask-wearing behavior and vaccination intention. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10293. [PMID: 37357247 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37072-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Containing a pandemic requires that individuals adhere to measures such as wearing face-masks and getting vaccinated. Therefore, identifying predictors and motives for both behaviors is of importance. Here, we study the decisions made by a cross-national sample in randomized hypothetical scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results show that mask-wearing was predicted by empathic tendencies, germ aversion, and higher age, whilst belief in misinformation and presentation of an interaction partner as a family member lowered the safety standards. The main motives associated with taking the mask off included: rationalization, facilitating interaction, and comfort. Vaccination intention was positively predicted by empathy, and negatively predicted by belief in misinformation and higher costs of the vaccine. We found no effect of immunization status of the surrounding social group. The most common motive for vaccination was protection of oneself and others, whereas undecided and anti-vaccine groups reported doubts about the effectiveness and fear of side effects. Together, we identify social and psychological predictors and motives of mask-wearing behavior and vaccination intention. The results highlight the importance of social context for mask-wearing, easy access to vaccines, empathy, and trust in publicly distributed information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Binter
- Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, Moskevská 54, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic.
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Ondra Pešout
- Department of Psychology, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Michał Pieniak
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | - Edward J Noon
- Institute of Childhood and Education, Leeds Trinity University, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Stephanie J Eder
- Department of Neurosciences and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Djerrassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
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Frisch-Aviram N, Hasan-Aslih S, Halperin E. Communicating with ethnic minorities during COVID-19: An experimental test of the effect of self-, ingroup-, and intergroup-focused messages. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16629. [PMID: 37287611 PMCID: PMC10226279 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing messaging to encourage minorities to adhere to health recommendations has been a complex task for governments worldwide during the COVID-19 crisis. Here, we propose and tests a new typology of messages among minorities that can be used to mobilize compliance and engagement. This typology comprises three messaging treatments emphasizing personal, ingroup, and intergroup benefits. We examine, via an experimental field study, whether there is a difference in the effect of these messages on two policy outcomes, social distancing and vaccine hesitancy, among the Arab minority living in Israel. The findings suggest that social messages, i.e., ingroup and intergroup messages, positively affect social distancing, while self-messaging harms social distancing compliance. Regarding vaccine intake, within the social messages tested, intergroup-focused messages were more effective than ingroup-focused messages for vaccination intentions only among citizens with low trust in the government. We discuss the findings in detail and propose new avenues in theory and practice to foster health policy compliance among minorities.
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Cohen DB, Saling LL, Lee E, Zagura A. Moral, self-interested, and social motivation each predict compliance with social distancing rules: utilitarianism is an indirect positive predictor. BMC Psychol 2023; 11:85. [PMID: 36991517 PMCID: PMC10054198 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01093-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social distancing rules have proven to be essential in reducing the spread of COVID-19. However, we can optimise these rules if we identify factors which predict compliance. Thus, in this study we investigated whether compliance with distancing rules is predicted by whether an individual is motivated by moral, self-interested, or social reasons. We also investigated the impact of an individual's utilitarian orientation both on compliance itself and on reasons for compliance. METHODS Our sample consisted of 301 participants recruited from four US states - California, Oregon, Mississippi, and Alabama - who completed an anonymous online survey. Six vignettes describing hypothetical social distancing rules were developed for the study. Participants indicated (i) how likely they were to violate each hypothetical distancing rule, (ii) how morally wrong violating each rule would be, (iii) how much risk of contracting COVID-19 they would tolerate in order to violate each rule, and (iv) how much social condemnation they would tolerate in order to violate each rule. Based on these responses, we gauged each participant's overall degree of compliance with social distancing rules as well as the extent to which each participant's compliance is motivated by moral, self-interested, and social reasons. We also measured other variables that could affect compliance including personality, level of religiosity, and inclination to engage in utilitarian reasoning. Multiple regression and exploratory structural equation modelling were used to determine predictors of compliance with social distancing rules. RESULTS We found that moral, self-interested, and social motivation each positively predicted compliance, with self-interested motivation being the strongest predictor. Furthermore, utilitarian orientation indirectly predicted compliance, with moral, self-interested, and social motivation as positive mediating factors. No controlled covariates (personality factors, religiosity, political orientation, or other background variables) predicted compliance. CONCLUSION These findings have implications not only for the design of social distancing rules but also for efforts to ensure vaccine uptake. Governments need to consider how to harness moral, self-interested, and social motivation to promote compliance, perhaps by co-opting utilitarian reasoning, which positively influences these motivational forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B Cohen
- School of Social Work and Arts, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678, Australia.
| | - Lauren L Saling
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Eunro Lee
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Anabella Zagura
- School of Social Work and Arts, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678, Australia
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Santos JV, Gomes da Costa J, Costa E, Almeida S, Cima J, Pita-Barros P. Factors associated with non-pharmaceutical interventions compliance during COVID-19 pandemic: a Portuguese cross-sectional survey. J Public Health (Oxf) 2023; 45:47-56. [PMID: 35220434 PMCID: PMC8903464 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) is one of the main tools used in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic response, including physical distancing, frequent hand washing, face mask use, respiratory hygiene and use of contact tracing apps. Literature on compliance with NPI during the COVID-19 pandemic is limited. METHODS We studied this compliance and associated factors in Portugal, between 28th October 2020 and 11th January 2021 (Portuguese second and third waves of the pandemic), using logistic regressions. Data were collected through a web-based survey and included questions regarding NPI compliance, COVID-19-related concerns, perception of institutions' performance, agreement with the measures implemented and socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS From the 1263 eligible responses, we found high levels of compliance among all COVID-19 related NPI, except for the contact tracing app. Females and older participants showed the highest compliance levels, whereas the opposite was observed for previously infected participants. There was heterogeneity of COVID-19 NPI compliance across Portuguese regions and a clear gradient between concern, government performance's perception or agreement and compliance. CONCLUSIONS Results suggested areas for further study with important implications for pandemic management and communication, for future preparedness, highlighting other factors to be accounted for when recommending policy measures during public health threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Vasco Santos
- MEDCIDS-Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal.,CINTESIS-Centre for Health Technology and Services Research, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal.,Public Health Unit, ACES Grande Porto VIII - Espinho/Gaia, ARS Norte, 4405-535 VIla Nova de Gaia, Portugal
| | | | - Eduardo Costa
- Nova School of Business and Economics, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2775-405 Carcavelos, Portugal
| | - Sara Almeida
- Nova School of Business and Economics, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2775-405 Carcavelos, Portugal
| | - Joana Cima
- NIPE - Centre for Research in Economics and Management, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Pedro Pita-Barros
- Nova School of Business and Economics, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2775-405 Carcavelos, Portugal
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Misiak M, Curry OS, Tureček P. Moral Messaging: Testing a Framing Technique during a Pandemic. BASIC AND APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/01973533.2023.2174868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michal Misiak
- IDN Being Human, University of Wroclaw
- School of Anthropology & Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford
| | | | - Petr Tureček
- Charles University
- Center for Theoretical Study, Charles University and Czech Academy of Sciences
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14
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Zhang X, Huang Y, Du L, Wang F. Exploring the impact of motivations on individual online and offline preventive actions against COVID-19. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2023:1-16. [PMID: 36776146 PMCID: PMC9900206 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-023-04283-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Having accurate and sufficient information about the outbreak and actively adopting preventive actions are important to reduce the adverse effects of COVID-19 and control the spread of the epidemic. To this end, grounded in the situational theory of problem solving (STOPS) and self-concern and other-orientation theory, this study aims to examine motivations of individuals to adopt online and offline preventive actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored the effects of three motivations, i.e., situational motivation, concern-for-self and concern-for-others motivation, and their antecedents on individual online and offline preventive actions. We used PLS-SEM to analyze the results of 628 questionnaires and found that: first, individual online preventive actions have a positive predictive effect on offline actions; secondly, individual online preventive actions are positively affected by situational motivation and concern-for-others motivation, and individual offline preventive actions are positively affected by concern-for-self and concern-for-others motivation; finally, three situational perceptual factors including problem, involvement and constraint recognition have significant effects on the three motivations. The findings of this study enriched the research results on individual behaviors in the context of COVID-19, and provided a basis for making decisions on the guidance and management of the individuals' COVID-19 preventive actions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-023-04283-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Zhang
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China
| | - Yelin Huang
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China
| | - Lin Du
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China
| | - Fenglian Wang
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, 241000 Wuhu, China
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15
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A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak associated with five air force bases and a nightclub following the lifting of COVID-19-related social restrictions, United Kingdom, July-to-September 2021. Epidemiol Infect 2023; 151:e26. [PMID: 36734116 PMCID: PMC9947034 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268823000134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe the management of two linked severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks, predominantly amongst 18-35-year-olds, in a UK county in July-to-September 2021, following the lifting of national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated social restrictions. One was associated with a nightclub and one with five air force bases. On week beginning 2nd August 2021, air force contact tracing teams detected 68 cases across five bases within one county; 21 (30.9%) were associated with a night-time economy venue, 13 (19.1%) with night-time economy venues in the county's main town and at least one case per base (n = 6, 8.8%) with a particular nightclub in this town, which itself had been associated with 302 cases in the previous week (coinciding with its reopening following a national lockdown). In response, Public Health England/United Kingdom Health Security Agency, air force and local authority teams collaboratively implemented communication strategies and enhanced access to SARS-CoV-2 testing and vaccination. Key challenges included attempting to encourage behaviours that reduce likelihood of transmission to a population who may have considered themselves at low risk from severe COVID-19. This report may inform future preparation for, and management of, easing of potential future pandemic-related social restrictions, and how an outbreak in this context may be addressed.
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16
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Blackman A, Hoffmann B. Diminishing returns: Nudging Covid-19 prevention among Colombian young adults. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0279179. [PMID: 36548257 PMCID: PMC9778522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) like social distancing, face masks, and handwashing will continue to be a frontline defense against Covid-19 for some time. But their effectiveness depends critically on compliance by young adults, who are most likely both to become infected and to infect others. We conducted a randomized controlled trial in Bogotá, Colombia, to assess the effectiveness of informational nudges emphasizing the private and public benefits of compliance on university students' concern about Covid-19, recent compliance with NPI recommendations, and intended future compliance. Although nudges boosted concern, they had limited effects on either recent or intended future compliance. We attribute these null results to high baseline levels of information about and compliance with NPIs, an informational diminishing returns scenario that is likely to be increasingly common globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen Blackman
- Climate and Sustainable Development Sector, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Bridget Hoffmann
- Research Department, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC, United States of America
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17
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Okada I, Yanagi I, Kubo Y, Kikuchi H. Descriptive, injunctive, or the synergy of both? Experimenting normative information on behavioral changes under the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1015742. [PMID: 36643703 PMCID: PMC9838221 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1015742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Backgrounds The effectiveness of citizens' behavioral changes to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as avoiding large social events, relies on science communication from policymakers and collective action among peer citizens. Extant studies recognize the potential effects of information stimuli on citizens' behavioral changes, including what epidemiological experts request (injunctive information) and what surrounding people behave (descriptive information). Yet, they have insufficiently assessed the co-occurrence and possible interaction of multiple information stimuli. Methods 1,819 Japanese citizens aged 18 or over were recruited for an experimental survey during March 1-3, 2021 and asked their views on a hypothetical wedding attendance in Japan while being exposed to randomly assigned normative information stimuli. Their willingness to attend a wedding asked before and after the intervention was measured. Infection risk perception was also asked as a mediating variable. Results Findings suggest the constant supremacy of descriptive information and no synergistic effects in the interaction of multiple information stimuli. We also report that the effects of injunctive and descriptive information vary according to participants' risk perception, age, and trust in experts. Conclusion Our experimental test enables a systematic assessment of multiple normative information and confirms the primacy of descriptive information as the main driver of behavioral change. Communication by medical experts has limitations but is still effective in specific categories of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isamu Okada
- Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan,*Correspondence: Isamu Okada,
| | - Itaru Yanagi
- School of Law, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Kubo
- Department of Urban Studies, School of Policy Studies, Kwansei Gakuin University, Sanda, Hyogo, Japan,Department of Law, Politics, and International Relations, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan,Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan,Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA,Program on U.S.-Japan Relations, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
| | - Hirokazu Kikuchi
- Area Studies Center, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization, Chiba, Japan
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18
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Kabiri S, Sharepour M, Howell CJ, Wellen H, Smith HP, Cochran JK, Shadmanfaat SM(S, Andersen TS. Violations of Emergent Norms Regarding COVID-19 Mitigation and Social Hygiene: An Application of Agnew’s General Theory of Crime. CRIME AND DELINQUENCY 2022:00111287221130961. [PMCID: PMC9742734 DOI: 10.1177/00111287221130961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
This study examines self-reported violations of emergent norms and regulations regarding COVID-19 mitigation and social hygiene practices among a sample of high school students randomly selected from public schools in Rasht, Iran. The study seeks to explain these COVID-19 ordinance violations through the application of Agnew’s general integrated theory of crime. Findings demonstrate that life domains, motivations, and constraints have a direct effect on COVID-19 misbehavior. Moreover, life domains have an indirect effect on COVID-19 misbehavior through both constraints and motivations. Finally, the relationship between motivations and COVID-19 misbehavior is moderated by the peers domain, whereas the relationship between constraints and COVID-19 misbehavior is moderated by the family domain and school domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Kabiri
- University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | | | | | - Hadley Wellen
- University of South Carolina System, Columbia, SC, USA
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19
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Aksoy O. Within-family influences on compliance with social-distancing measures during COVID-19 lockdowns in the United Kingdom. Nat Hum Behav 2022; 6:1660-1668. [PMID: 36316496 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01465-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The compliance of adolescents, who are often unfairly portrayed as spreaders of COVID-19, with public health measures is essential for containing diseases. But does adolescents' compliance develop independently from their parents? Using nationally representative longitudinal data and cross-lagged structural equation panel models, here I study compliance with social-distancing measures of 6,752 triplets that comprise the adolescent child (age 19), their mother and their father during two national lockdowns in the United Kingdom. The results show that adolescents have the lowest and their mothers have the highest levels of compliance, and compliance generally drops over time. Moreover, mothers, whether the child lives at home or not, and fathers, when the child lives at home, have significant influence on their adolescent child's compliance. The child also influences their fathers' compliance. The parental influence on adolescents' compliance documented here suggests that family dynamics play a role in compliance with social-distancing guidelines, which may be useful for informing future health policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozan Aksoy
- Centre for Quantitative Social Science, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK.
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20
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Seva RR. Hidden power of affective products and environments. Work 2022; 73:S5-S14. [DOI: 10.3233/wor-211187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Designs that evoke fun and surprise have been successful in driving uncommon positive behavior. Affective design (AD) is based on the premise that products and services can elicit strong affective responses that can be harnessed for specific purposes such as increasing consumption. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to discuss the theoretical foundations and applications of AD to address contemporary consumption, recycling, and healthcare issues. METHODS: Current applications of AD to address environmental and health issues were analyzed in terms of effectiveness in changing user behavior. Relevant concepts were used to provide future research directions in this field. RESULTS: Early applications of AD focused on designing products to increase customer satisfaction and stimulate consumption. The method, however, is auspicious in solving relevant societal and global problems. To pave the way for successful integration of AD, one research direction is the need to identify the right emotion to elicit in a certain context. There is a dearth of literature to promote sustainable consumption, such as using less energy, minimizing carbon footprint, or just taking care of the environment using AD. CONCLUSION: The integration of AD is a strategy that can be used to prompt behavior beneficial to society and the environment. Literature on AD suggests that a deliberate effort to manipulate design factors can work to elicit strong affective responses.
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21
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Practical behavioural solutions to COVID-19: Changing the role of behavioural science in crises. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272994. [PMID: 36223347 PMCID: PMC9555670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
For a very long time in the COVID-19 crisis, behavioural change leading to physical distancing behaviour was the only tool at our disposal to mitigate virus spread. In this large-scale naturalistic experimental study we show how we can use behavioural science to find ways to promote the desired physical distancing behaviour. During seven days in a supermarket we implemented different behavioural interventions: (i) rewarding customers for keeping distance; (i) providing signage to guide customers; and (iii) altering shopping cart regulations. We asked customers to wear a tag that measured distances to other tags using ultra-wide band at 1Hz. In total N = 4, 232 customers participated in the study. We compared the number of contacts (< 1.5 m, corresponding to Dutch regulations) between customers using state-of-the-art contact network analyses. We found that rewarding customers and providing signage increased physical distancing, whereas shopping cart regulations did not impact physical distancing. Rewarding customers moreover reduced the duration of remaining contacts between customers. These results demonstrate the feasibility to conduct large-scale behavioural experiments that can provide guidelines for policy. While the COVID-19 crisis unequivocally demonstrates the importance of behaviour and behavioural change, behaviour is integral to many crises, like the trading of mortgages in the financial crisis or the consuming of goods in the climate crisis. We argue that by acknowledging the role of behaviour in crises, and redefining this role in terms of the desired behaviour and necessary behavioural change, behavioural science can open up new solutions to crises and inform policy. We believe that we should start taking advantage of these opportunities.
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22
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Jia N, Shu H, Wang X, Xu B, Xi Y, Xue C, Liu Y, Wang Z. Smartphone-Based Social Distance Detection Technology with Near-Ultrasonic Signal. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:7345. [PMID: 36236443 PMCID: PMC9571867 DOI: 10.3390/s22197345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
With the emergence of COVID-19, social distancing detection is a crucial technique for epidemic prevention and control. However, the current mainstream detection technology cannot obtain accurate social distance in real-time. To address this problem, this paper presents a first study on smartphone-based social distance detection technology based on near-ultrasonic signals. Firstly, according to auditory characteristics of the human ear and smartphone frequency response characteristics, a group of 18 kHz-23 kHz inaudible Chirp signals accompanied with single frequency signals are designed to complete ranging and ID identification in a short time. Secondly, an improved mutual ranging algorithm is proposed by combining the cubic spline interpolation and a two-stage search to obtain robust mutual ranging performance against multipath and NLoS affect. Thirdly, a hybrid channel access protocol is proposed consisting of Chirp BOK, FDMA, and CSMA/CA to increase the number of concurrencies and reduce the probability of collision. The results show that in our ranging algorithm, 95% of the mutual ranging error within 5 m is less than 10 cm and gets the best performance compared to the other traditional methods in both LoS and NLoS. The protocol can efficiently utilize the limited near-ultrasonic channel resources and achieve a high refresh rate ranging under the premise of reducing the collision probability. Our study can realize high-precision, high-refresh-rate social distance detection on smartphones and has significant application value during an epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naizheng Jia
- College of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Haoran Shu
- College of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Xinheng Wang
- School of Advanced Technology, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Bowen Xu
- College of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Yuzhang Xi
- College of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Can Xue
- College of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Youming Liu
- College of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- College of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China
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23
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Ludwig J, Strack F. Asymmetrical friendships? People are willing to risk COVID-19 infection from friends but are reluctant to pass it on to them. JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 53:JASP12927. [PMID: 36249315 PMCID: PMC9539111 DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although most protective behaviors related to the COVID-19 pandemic come with personal costs, they will produce the largest benefit if everybody cooperates. This study explores two interacting factors that drive cooperation in this tension between private and collective interests. A preregistered experiment (N = 299) examined (a) how the quality of the relation among interacting partners (social proximity), and (b) how focusing on the risk of self-infection versus onward transmission affected intentions to engage in protective behaviors. The results suggested that risk focus was an important moderator of the relation between social proximity and protection intentions. Specifically, participants were more willing to accept the risk of self-infection from close others than from strangers, resulting in less caution toward a friend than toward a distant other. However, when onward transmission was the primary concern, participants were more reluctant to effect transmission to close others, resulting in more caution toward friends than strangers. These findings inform the debate about effective nonclinical measures against the pandemic. Practical implications for risk communication are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Ludwig
- Institute for PsychologyJulius‐Maximilians‐Universität WürzburgWürzburgGermany
- Coller School of ManagementTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Fritz Strack
- Institute for PsychologyJulius‐Maximilians‐Universität WürzburgWürzburgGermany
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24
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Sivashankar Y, Liu J, Fernandes MA. The importance of performing versus observing meaningful actions, on the enactment benefit to memory. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2022.2102639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Junwen Liu
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada
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25
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de Noronha N, Moniz M, Gama A, Laires PA, Goes AR, Pedro AR, Dias S, Soares P, Nunes C. Non-adherence to COVID-19 lockdown: who are they? A cross-sectional study in Portugal. Public Health 2022; 211:5-13. [PMID: 35988506 PMCID: PMC9271418 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Objectives The SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread worldwide, leading governments to implement mitigation measures. Understanding the reluctance to adhere to non-pharmacological interventions might help promote adherence to these measures. This study aimed to identify factors associated with non-adherence to the first lockdown in Portugal. Study design Cross-sectional study. Methods This study used data from a Portuguese community-based survey entitled ‘COVID-19 Barometer: Social Opinion’. Data were collected on risk perception, health status and social experiences using a snowball sampling technique. The event of interest corresponded to participants who reported not staying home during the lockdown period, serving as a proxy for non-adherence to lockdown. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with non-adherence to the first lockdown. Results Responses from 133,601 individual questionnaires that were completed during the first week of the first lockdown in 2020 were analysed. A minority of participants (5.6%) reported non-adherence to lockdown (i.e. leaving home for reasons other than essential situations). Working in the workplace was the factor with the strongest association of non-adherence to the lockdown. Several other factors were also associated with non-adherence to the first lockdown; namely, being a man, being a student, having a low level of education, having a low income, living alone or with a high-infection-risk professional (e.g. doctor, nurse, pharmaceutical, health technician, firefighter, police officer, military, essential services worker), perceiving the risk of getting COVID-19 to be high, not having social support in case of infection, feeling agitated, sad or anxious every day, and considering the preventive measures to be unimportant or inadequate. Conclusions Non-adherence to lockdown was associated with socio-economic, trust and perception factors. Future research should investigate the mechanisms underlying these associations to help identify the population groups who are most at risk of non-adherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- N de Noronha
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - M Moniz
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - A Gama
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - P A Laires
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - A R Goes
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - A R Pedro
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - S Dias
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - P Soares
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - C Nunes
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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26
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Goren T, Vashdi DR, Beeri I. "Apples and Oranges": Examining Different Social Groups' Compliance With Government Health Instructions During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Health Policy Manag 2022; 11:1172-1186. [PMID: 33904702 PMCID: PMC9808174 DOI: 10.34172/ijhpm.2021.21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus outbreak has demonstrated the crucial effect of the public's compliance with the government's health instructions on the population's health. However, evidence shows that some communities are less likely to comply with such instructions than others. This study highlights the factors related to intentions to comply with newly issued health directives during an ongoing extreme crisis, such as the current pandemic. In addition, it compares the impact of these factors on different minority groups and the general population in Israel. METHODS Using an online survey (N=1005), we examined the impact of compliance-related factors on compliance intentions with newly issued health directives in two minority groups in Israel: the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community (N=323) and the Arab community (N=361), as well as in the general population (N=321), during the first outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Participants were presented with a new made-up COVID-19-related instruction simulated to be issued by the Israeli Ministry of Health. Compliance intentions and compliance-related factors were measured. RESULTS The Arab minority expressed greater intentions of complying with the instructions than the other groups. Perceptions on risk and the effectiveness of the instruction were the only two significantly associated factors with compliance intentions in all of the social groups. Additional factors affected different groups to different extents. Trust in government was related to compliance intentions only in the Arab minority. CONCLUSION Intentions to comply with health instructions during a crisis differ in various minority groups and in comparison to the general population, both in their levels and in the factors related to them. Policy-makers and health authorities should consider providing information about the risks and negative outcomes of the crisis as well as the expected effectiveness of the recommended behaviors. Future research should examine other minority groups and other types of instructions in different stages of a crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talia Goren
- Division of Public Administration and Policy, School of Political Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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27
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He M, Chen JH, Wu AMS, Tong KK. Intention to maintain and willingness to stop: Applying a dual-process model to understanding the maintenance of COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2022; 15:315-336. [PMID: 35691935 PMCID: PMC9349392 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Preventive behaviors have played an essential role in coping with COVID-19 and may continue to exerting a crucial impact on pandemic control in the future. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of social-cognitive factors on maintenance of COVID-19 preventive behaviors based on a dual-process model, which encompasses a reasoned path via the intention to maintain and a social reaction path via the willingness to stop. We collected a probability sample of 472 community-dwelling adults. Social-cognitive factors, behavioral tendencies, and preventive behaviors of COVID-19 were measured. The results supported that the dual-process framework could account for individual differences in preventive behaviors. Self-efficacy and response cost significantly explained the intention to maintain preventive behaviors, while favorability of risk image and subjective norm significantly explained the willingness to stop preventive behaviors. Our findings proposed strategies for promoting individuals' maintenance of preventive behaviors during a pandemic. The development of prevention policies may focus on two paths: strengthening the intended path by enhancing self-efficacy and decreasing response cost of preventive behaviors and monitoring and improving social influences, such as risk prototype and subjective norm, which can reduce the willingness to stop preventive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mu He
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social SciencesUniversity of MacauMacaoChina
| | - Juliet Honglei Chen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social SciencesUniversity of MacauMacaoChina,Centre for Cognitive and Brain SciencesUniversity of MacauMacaoChina
| | - Anise M. S. Wu
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social SciencesUniversity of MacauMacaoChina,Centre for Cognitive and Brain SciencesUniversity of MacauMacaoChina
| | - Kwok Kit Tong
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social SciencesUniversity of MacauMacaoChina
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28
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Impact of Social Media, Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) on the Intention to Stay at Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14127192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Considering how communities perceive the threat and risks of COVID-19, it is essential to examine how emotional regulation stimulated through intrinsic and extrinsic incentive mechanisms via social media can reinforce ‘Stay at home’ intentions. The conceptual framework was developed using the elements of the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM). A self-reported questionnaire was used to measure individuals’ intention to stay at home during the pandemic based on the perceived locus of causality as a part of self-determination theory. The empirical research was conducted on a sample of 306 USA respondents. The study results indicate that both components of the EPPM—efficacy and threat—positively affect ‘stay at home’ intentions. Moreover, a positive effect of efficacy on threats was found, as was a moderating effect of threats on the relationship between efficacy and the intention to stay at home. Meanwhile, the influence of social media exposure on threats and behavioral intentions was not significant. People are likely to stay at home as a preventive measure during COVID-19 if there is enough threats and efficacy. However, the abundance of information and opinions in social media can lead to a decreased perceived threat and might disrupt the acceptance of preventive actions.
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Epton T, Ghio D, Ballard LM, Allen SF, Kassianos AP, Hewitt R, Swainston K, Fynn WI, Rowland V, Westbrook J, Jenkinson E, Morrow A, McGeechan GJ, Stanescu S, Yousuf AA, Sharma N, Begum S, Karasouli E, Scanlan D, Shorter GW, Arden MA, Armitage CJ, O'Connor DB, Kamal A, McBride E, Swanson V, Hart J, Byrne-Davis L, Chater A, Drury J. Interventions to promote physical distancing behaviour during infectious disease pandemics or epidemics: A systematic review. Soc Sci Med 2022; 303:114946. [PMID: 35605431 PMCID: PMC8957361 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Physical distancing, defined as keeping 1-2m apart when co-located, can prevent cases of droplet or aerosol transmitted infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV2. During the COVID-19 pandemic, distancing was a recommendation or a requirement in many countries. This systematic review aimed to determine which interventions and behavior change techniques (BCTs) are effective in promoting adherence to distancing and through which potential mechanisms of action (MOAs). METHODS Six databases were searched. The review included studies that were (a) conducted on humans, (b) reported physical distancing interventions, (c) included any comparator (e.g., pre-intervention versus post-intervention; randomized controlled trial), and (d) reported actual distancing or predictors of distancing behavior. Risk of bias was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. BCTs and potential MoAs were identified in each intervention. RESULTS Six articles (with seven studies and 19 comparisons) indicated that distancing interventions could successfully change MoAs and behavior. Successful BCTs (MoAs) included feedback on behavior (e.g., motivation); information about health consequences, salience of health consequences (e.g., beliefs about consequences), demonstration (e.g., beliefs about capabilities), and restructuring the physical environment (e.g., environmental context and resources). The most promising interventions were proximity buzzers, directional systems, and posters with loss-framed messages that demonstrated the behaviors. CONCLUSIONS The evidence indicates several BCTs and potential MoAs that should be targeted in interventions and highlights gaps that should be the focus of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy Epton
- Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, UK,Corresponding author. Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Daniela Ghio
- Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, UK
| | | | - Sarah F. Allen
- School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law, Teesside University, UK
| | | | | | - Katherine Swainston
- Psychology, Centre for Applied Psychological Science, Teesside University, UK
| | | | | | | | - Elizabeth Jenkinson
- Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
| | | | | | - Sabina Stanescu
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Nisha Sharma
- Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, UK
| | - Suhana Begum
- Department of Psychology, City University of London, UK,Surrey County Council, UK
| | | | - Daniel Scanlan
- Research and Communication, Education Support, London, N5 1EW, UK
| | - Gillian W. Shorter
- Centre for Improving Health Related Quality of Life, Queen's University Belfast, UK
| | - Madelynne A. Arden
- Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology, Sheffield Hallam University, UK
| | - Christopher J. Armitage
- Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, UK,Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, University of Manchester, UK,Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, UK,NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Translational Research Centre, University of Manchester, UK
| | | | - Atiya Kamal
- Department of Psychology, Birmingham City University, UK
| | - Emily McBride
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, UK
| | | | - Jo Hart
- Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, UK,Division of Medical Education, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Lucie Byrne-Davis
- Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester, UK,Division of Medical Education, University of Manchester, UK
| | | | - John Drury
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, UK
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Alkhalifah A, Bukar UA. Examining the Prediction of COVID-19 Contact-Tracing App Adoption Using an Integrated Model and Hybrid Approach Analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:847184. [PMID: 35685757 PMCID: PMC9171054 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.847184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 contact-tracing applications (CTAs) offer enormous potential to mitigate the surge of positive coronavirus cases, thus helping stakeholders to monitor high-risk areas. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is among the countries that have developed a CTA known as the Tawakkalna application, to manage the spread of COVID-19. Thus, this study aimed to examine and predict the factors affecting the adoption of Tawakkalna CTA. An integrated model which comprises the technology acceptance model (TAM), privacy calculus theory (PCT), and task-technology fit (TTF) model was hypothesized. The model is used to understand better behavioral intention toward using the Tawakkalna mobile CTA. This study performed structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis as well as artificial neural network (ANN) analysis to validate the model, using survey data from 309 users of CTAs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The findings revealed that perceived ease of use and usefulness has positively and significantly impacted the behavioral intention of Tawakkalna mobile CTA. Similarly, task features and mobility positively and significantly influence task-technology fit, and significantly affect the behavioral intention of the CTA. However, the privacy risk, social concerns, and perceived benefits of social interaction are not significant factors. The findings provide adequate knowledge of the relative impact of key predictors of the behavioral intention of the Tawakkalna contact-tracing app.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Alkhalifah
- Department of Information Technology, College of Computer, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Umar Ali Bukar
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Computer Science Unit, Taraba State University, Jalingo, Nigeria
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31
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Bokemper SE, Huber GA, James EK, Gerber AS, Omer SB. Testing persuasive messaging to encourage COVID-19 risk reduction. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264782. [PMID: 35320285 PMCID: PMC8942219 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
What types of public health messages are effective at changing people's beliefs and intentions to practice social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19? We conducted two randomized experiments in summer 2020 that assigned respondents to read a public health message and then measured their beliefs and behavioral intentions across a wide variety of outcomes. Using both a convenience sample and a pre-registered replication with a nationally representative sample of Americans, we find that a message that reframes not social distancing as recklessness rather than bravery and a message that highlights the need for everyone to take action to protect one another are the most effective at increasing beliefs and intentions related to social distancing. These results provide an evidentiary basis for building effective public health campaigns to increase social distancing during flu pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott E. Bokemper
- Institution for Social and Policy Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Center for the Study of American Politics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Gregory A. Huber
- Institution for Social and Policy Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Center for the Study of American Politics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Political Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Erin K. James
- Institute for Global Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Alan S. Gerber
- Institution for Social and Policy Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Center for the Study of American Politics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Political Science, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Saad B. Omer
- Institute for Global Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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32
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Wright L, Steptoe A, Fancourt D. Patterns of compliance with COVID-19 preventive behaviours: a latent class analysis of 20 000 UK adults. J Epidemiol Community Health 2022; 76:247-253. [PMID: 34521650 PMCID: PMC8449842 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2021-216876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Governments have implemented a range of measures to tackle COVID-19, primarily focusing on changing citizens' behaviours in order to lower the transmission of the virus. Few studies have looked at the patterns of compliance with different measures within individuals: whether people comply with all measures or selectively choose some but not others. Such research is important for designing interventions to increase compliance. METHODS We used cross-sectional data from 20 947 UK adults in the COVID-19 Social Study collected from 17 November to 23 December 2020. Self-report compliance was assessed with six behaviours: mask wearing, hand washing, indoor household mixing, outdoor household mixing, social distancing and compliance with other guidelines. Patterns of compliance behaviour were identified using latent class analysis, and multinomial logistic regression was used to assess demographic, socioeconomic and personality predictors of behaviour patterns. RESULTS We selected a four-latent class solution. Most individuals reported similar levels of compliance across the six behaviour measures. High level of compliance was the modal response. Lower self-reported compliance was related to young age, high risk-taking behaviour, low confidence in government and low empathy, among other factors. Looking at individual behaviours, mask wearing had the highest level of compliance while compliance with social distancing was relatively low. CONCLUSION Results suggest that individuals choose to comply with all guidelines, rather than some but not others. Strategies to increase compliance should focus on increasing general motivations to comply alongside specifically encouraging social distancing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Wright
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Steptoe
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Daisy Fancourt
- Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
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33
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Berg SH, Lungu DA, Brønnick K, Harthug S, Røislien J. Exponential growth bias of infectious diseases: a systematic review protocol (Preprint). JMIR Res Protoc 2022; 11:e37441. [DOI: 10.2196/37441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Pattison AB, Reinfelde M, Chang H, Chowdhury M, Cohen E, Malahy S, O'Connor K, Sellami M, Smith KL, Stanton CY, Voets B, Wei HG. Finding the facts in an infodemic: framing effective COVID-19 messages to connect people to authoritative content. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:bmjgh-2021-007582. [PMID: 35131808 PMCID: PMC8829835 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The public’s need for timely and trusted COVID-19 information remains high. Governments and global health agencies such as the WHO have sought to disseminate accurate and timely information to counteract misinformation and disinformation that has arisen as part of an ‘infodemic’—the overabundance of information on COVID-19—some accurate and some not. In early 2020, WHO began a collaboration with Google to run online public service announcements on COVID-19, in the form of search ads displayed above results of Google Search queries. Web-based text ads can drive online searchers of COVID-19 information to authoritative COVID-19 content but determining what message is most effective is a challenge. WHO wanted to understand which message framing, that is, the way in which ad information is worded for the public, leads searchers to click through to WHO content. WHO tested 71 text ads in English across four COVID-19 topics using a mix of message frames: descriptive, collective, gain, loss, appeals to values and emphasising reasons. Between 11 September 2020 and 23 November 2020, there were 13 million views of the experimental WHO text ads leading to 1.4 million click-throughs to the WHO website. Within the set of 71 ads, there was a large spread between the most effective and least effective messages; for messages on COVID-19, the best performing framings were more than twice as effective as the worst performing framings (18.7% vs 8.5% engagement rate). Health practitioners can apply the messaging tactics WHO found to be successful to rapidly optimise messages for their own public health campaigns and better reach the public with authoritative information. Similar collaboration between big technology companies and governments and global health agencies has the potential to advance public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B Pattison
- Digital Health and Innovation, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Monta Reinfelde
- Digital Health and Innovation, World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
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Misuraca R, Teuscher U, Scaffidi Abbate C, Ceresia F, Roccella M, Parisi L, Vetri L, Miceli S. Can We Do Better Next Time? Italians’ Response to the COVID-19 Emergency Through a Heuristics and Biases Lens. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12020039. [PMID: 35200290 PMCID: PMC8869375 DOI: 10.3390/bs12020039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
During the outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy, people often failed to adopt behaviors that could have stopped, or at least slowed down, the spread of this deadly disease. We offer cognitive explanations for these decisions, based on some of the most common heuristics and biases that are known to influence human judgment and decision-making, especially under conditions of high uncertainty. Our analysis concludes with the following recommendations: policymakers can and should take advantage of this established science, in order to communicate more effectively and increase the likelihood that people choose responsible actions in a public health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Misuraca
- Department of Political Science and International Relations (DEMS), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-091-23892-507
| | - Ursina Teuscher
- Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97207, USA;
| | - Costanza Scaffidi Abbate
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (C.S.A.); (M.R.); (L.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Francesco Ceresia
- Department of Political Science and International Relations (DEMS), University of Palermo, 90134 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Michele Roccella
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (C.S.A.); (M.R.); (L.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Lucia Parisi
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (C.S.A.); (M.R.); (L.P.); (S.M.)
| | - Luigi Vetri
- OASI, Research Institute-IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy;
| | - Silvana Miceli
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (C.S.A.); (M.R.); (L.P.); (S.M.)
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36
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Francis KB, McNabb CB. Moral Decision-Making During COVID-19: Moral Judgements, Moralisation, and Everyday Behaviour. Front Psychol 2022; 12:769177. [PMID: 35185677 PMCID: PMC8854988 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.769177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose significant health, economic, and social challenges. Given that many of these challenges have moral relevance, the present studies investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic is influencing moral decision-making and whether moralisation of behaviours specific to the crisis predict adherence to government-recommended behaviours. Whilst we find no evidence that utilitarian endorsements have changed during the pandemic at two separate timepoints, individuals have moralised non-compliant behaviours associated with the pandemic such as failing to physically distance themselves from others. Importantly, our findings show that this moralisation predicts sustained individual compliance with government-recommended behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn B. Francis
- School of Psychology, Keele University, Keele, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom
| | - Carolyn B. McNabb
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
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Praharaj S, Han H. Human mobility impacts on the surging incidence of COVID‐19 in India. GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH 2022; 60. [PMCID: PMC8652497 DOI: 10.1111/1745-5871.12502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Human mobility triggers how fast and where infectious diseases spread and modelling community flows helps assess the impact of social distancing policies and advance our understanding of community behaviour in such circumstances. This study investigated the relationship between human mobility and the surging incidence of COVID‐19 in India. We performed a generalised estimating equation with a Poisson log‐linear model to analyse the daily mobility rate and new cases of COVID‐19 between 14 March and 11 September 2020. We found that mobility to grocery and retail locations was significantly associated (p < 0.01) with the incidence of COVID‐19, these being crowded and unorganised in most parts of India. In contrast, visits to parks, workplaces, and transit stations did not considerably affect the changing COVID‐19 cases over time. In particular, workplaces equipped with social distancing protocols or low‐density open spaces are much less susceptible to the spread of the virus. These findings suggest that human mobility data, geographic information, and health geography modelling have significant potential to inform strategic decision‐making during pandemics because they provide actionable knowledge of when and where communities might be exposed to the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarbeswar Praharaj
- Knowledge Exchange for Resilience, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban PlanningArizona State UniversityTempeArizonaUSA
| | - Hoon Han
- School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design and ArchitectureUNSW SydneyNSWAustralia
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van Baal ST, Walasek L, Karanfilovska D, Cheng AC, Hohwy J. Risk perception, illusory superiority and personal responsibility during COVID-19: An experimental study of attitudes to staying home. Br J Psychol 2022; 113:608-629. [PMID: 35028940 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about how different government communication strategies may systematically affect people's attitudes to staying home or going out during the COVID-19 pandemic, nor how people perceive and process the risk of viral transmission in different scenarios. In this study, we report results from two experiments that examine the degree to which people's attitudes regarding the permissibility of leaving one's home are (1) sensitive to different levels of risk of viral transmission in specific scenarios, (2) sensitive to communication framings that are either imperative or that emphasize personal responsibility, or (3) creating 'loopholes' for themselves, enabling a more permissive approach to their own compliance. We find that the level of risk influences attitudes to going out, and that participants report less permissive attitudes to going out when prompted with messages framed in imperative terms, rather than messages emphasizing personal responsibility; for self-loopholes, we find no evidence that participants' attitudes towards going out in specific scenarios are more permissive for themselves than for others. However, participants report they are more rigorous in staying home than others, which may cause moral licensing. Additionally, we find that age is negatively associated with permissive attitudes, and that male participants are more permissive to going out. Thus, during phases where it is important to promote staying home for all scenarios, including those perceived to be low-risk, imperative communication may be best suited to increase compliance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon T van Baal
- Cognition & Philosophy Lab, Department of Philosophy, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK
| | - Lukasz Walasek
- Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK
| | - Daniela Karanfilovska
- Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology Unit, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Allen C Cheng
- Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology Unit, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jakob Hohwy
- Cognition & Philosophy Lab, Department of Philosophy, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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39
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Choi S, Merrell WN, Ackerman JM. Keep your distance: Different roles for knowledge and affect in predicting social distancing behavior. J Health Psychol 2022; 27:2847-2859. [PMID: 34991391 DOI: 10.1177/13591053211067100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study examines predictors of social distancing behavior across populations (students and community members) and across time in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on two factors commonly associated with risk perception and prevention: knowledge and affect. Results showed that, despite similar levels of social distancing, student distancing was predicted only by feelings of threat about COVID-19, whereas community distancing was predicted by both feeling informed and threatened. Examining longitudinal effects, which were limited to students only, students became more informed about COVID-19 over time, and increases in being informed (but not feeling threatened) predicted more distancing.
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40
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de Ridder D, Aarts H, Benjamins J, Glebbeek M, Leplaa H, Leseman P, Potgieter R, Tummers L, Zondervan‐Zwijnenburg M. “Keep your distance for me”: A field experiment on empathy prompts to promote distancing during the
COVID
‐19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 32:755-766. [PMID: 35463459 PMCID: PMC9015613 DOI: 10.1002/casp.2593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID‐19 has turned out to be a major challenge to societies all over the globe. Curbing the pandemic requires rapid and extensive behavioural change to limit social interaction, including physical distancing. In this study, we tested the notion that inducing empathy for people vulnerable to the virus may result in actual distancing behaviour beyond the mere motivation to do so. In a large field experiment with a sequential case–control design, we found that (a) empathy prompts may increase distancing as assessed by camera recordings and (b) effectiveness of prompts depends on the dynamics of the pandemic and associated public health policies. In sum, the present study demonstrates the potential of empathy‐generating interventions to promote pro‐social behaviour and emphasizes the necessity of field experiments to assess the role of context before advising policy makers to implement measures derived from behavioural science. Please refer to Supplementary Material to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise de Ridder
- Department of Social Health & Organizational Psychology Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Henk Aarts
- Department of Social Health & Organizational Psychology Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Benjamins
- Department of Social Health & Organizational Psychology Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Psychology Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | | | - Hidde Leplaa
- Department of Methods & Statistics Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Paul Leseman
- Department of Education Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Renske Potgieter
- Department of Social Health & Organizational Psychology Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Lars Tummers
- Utrecht School of Governance, Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
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Falco P, Zaccagni S. Promoting social distancing in a pandemic: Beyond good intentions. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260457. [PMID: 34855825 PMCID: PMC8638903 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Do reminders to promote social distancing achieve the desired effects on behavior? Much of the existing literature analyses impacts on people's intentions to comply. We run a randomised controlled trial in Denmark to test different versions of a reminder to stay home at the beginning of the crisis. Using a two-stage design, we follow up with recipients and analyse their subsequent self-reported behaviour. We find that the reminder increases ex-ante intentions to comply when it emphasises the consequences of non-compliance for the subjects themselves and their families, while it has no effect when the emphasis is on other people or the country as a whole. We also find, however, that impacts on intentions do not translate into equivalent impacts on actions. Only people in poor health react to the reminder by staying home significantly more. Our results shed light on important gaps between people's intentions and their actions in responding to the recommendations of health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Falco
- Dept. of Economics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Sarah Zaccagni
- Dept. of Economics and Center for Economic Behaviour and Inequality, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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42
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Tanaka T, Nihonsugi T, Ohtake F, Haruno M. A message of the majority with scientific evidence encourages young people to show their prosocial nature in COVID-19 vaccination. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23261. [PMID: 34853337 PMCID: PMC8636594 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02230-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The most promising way to prevent the explosive spread of COVID-19 infection is to achieve herd immunity through vaccination. It is therefore important to motivate those who are less willing to be vaccinated. To address this issue, we conducted an online survey of 6232 Japanese people to investigate age- and gender-dependent differences in attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination and the underlying psychological processes. We asked participants to read one of nine different messages about COVID-19 vaccination and rate their willingness to be vaccinated. We also collected their 17 social personality trait scores and demographic information. We found that males 10-20 years old were least willing to be vaccinated. We also found that prosocial traits are the driving force for young people, but the motivation in older people also depends on risk aversion and self-interest. Furthermore, an analysis of 9 different messages demonstrated that for young people (particularly males), the message emphasizing the majority's intention to vaccinate and scientific evidence for the safety of the vaccination had the strongest positive effect on the willingness to be vaccinated, suggesting that the "majority + scientific evidence" message nudges young people to show their prosocial nature in action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiko Tanaka
- Center for Information and Neural Networks, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | | | - Fumio Ohtake
- Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Japan
| | - Masahiko Haruno
- Center for Information and Neural Networks, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
- Grauduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
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43
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Latynov VV, Vanin AV. Psychological Antecedents and Opportunities for Correcting Negative Attitudes towards COVID-19 Prevention Measures. IFAC-PAPERSONLINE 2021; 54:161-165. [PMID: 38620851 PMCID: PMC8588793 DOI: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2021.10.438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The article examines the psychological antecedents and opportunities for correcting attitudes associated with the person's rejection of COVID-19 prevention measures. The psychological factors that favor the appearance of such attitudes in a person are discussed. Three groups of these antecedents are distinguished, differing in terms of their place in the structure of the psyche and the degree of their stability during a person's life: stable, relatively stable, dynamic. The group of stable psychological antecedents includes personality traits, cognitive/thinking style, personal values; into the group of relatively stable - worldview beliefs, science-related knowledge, peculiarities of the social self and group identity; into the group of dynamic ones - the psychological state, attitudes, and beliefs regarding the situation of the pandemic. Two main strategies for counteracting negative attitudes and beliefs a re highlighted: preventive (implemented even before the emergence of undesirable attitudes and the appearance of misinformation provoking their occurrence), reactive (carried out after the formation of negative attitudes and beliefs). Various options for implementing a preventive strategy are considered: limiting the spread of misinformation about COVID-19, preventing its refutation, and developing people's skills to detect misinformation. The factors of the effectiveness of the reactive counteraction strategy are analyzed: the type of tactics used to correct negative attitudes, the characteristics of the source of misinformation about COVID-19, the structure of the refuting message, the frequency of repetition of misinformation, the time elapsed between its appearance and rebutting it, the degree and direction of the recipient's cognitive activity, his/her views and beliefs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander V Vanin
- Institute of Psychology of Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow, Russia
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44
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Nudges for COVID-19 voluntary vaccination: How to explain peer information? Soc Sci Med 2021; 292:114561. [PMID: 34823128 PMCID: PMC8577869 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination promotion is a crucial strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic; however, individual autonomy should also be respected. This study aimed to discover other-regarding information nudges that can reinforce people's intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine without impeding their autonomous decision-making. In March 2021, we conducted an online experiment with 1595 people living throughout Japan, and randomly assigned them either of one control group and three treatment groups that received messages differently describing peer information: control, comparison, influence-gain, and influence-loss. We compared each message's effects on vaccination intention, autonomous decision-making, and emotional response. We found that the influence-gain nudge was effective in increasing the number of older adults who newly decided to receive the vaccine. The comparison and influence-loss nudges further reinforced the intention of older adults who had already planned to receive it. However, the influence-loss nudge, which conveys similar information to the influence-gain nudge but with loss-framing, increased viewers' negative emotion. These messages had no promoting effect for young adults with lower vaccination intentions at baseline. Based on the findings, we propose governments should use different messages depending on their purposes and targets, such as comparison instead of influence-loss, to encourage voluntary vaccination behavior.
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45
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The Theory of Planned Behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparison of health behaviors between Belgian and French residents. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258320. [PMID: 34735473 PMCID: PMC8568184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic presents a global crisis and authorities have encouraged the population to promote preventive health behaviors to slow the spread of the virus. While the literature on psychological factors influencing health behaviors during the COVID-19 is flourishing, there is a lack of cross-national research focusing on multiple health behaviors. The present study overcomes this limitation and affords a validation of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a conceptual framework for explaining the adoption of handwashing and limitation of social contacts, two health behaviors that highly differ in their nature. Specifically, we compare TPB model on these two protective behaviors among people living in Belgium (N = 3744) and France (N = 1060) during the COVID-19 sanitary crisis. Data were collected from March 18 until April 19, 2020, which corresponds to the spring lockdown and the first peak of the pandemic in these countries. Results indicated that more positive attitudes, greater social norms, increased perceived control and higher intentions were related to higher adherence to handwashing and limitation of social contacts, for both Belgian and French residents. Ultimately, we argued that the TPB model tends to manifest similarly across countries in explaining health behaviors, when comparing handwashing and limitation of social contacts among individuals living in different national contexts.
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46
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Marinthe G, Brown G, Jaubert T, Chekroun P. Do it for others! The role of family and national group social belongingness in engaging with COVID-19 preventive health behaviors. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 98:104241. [PMID: 34690362 PMCID: PMC8523484 DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2021.104241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 is an unprecedented threat and an effective response requires a collective effort: engagement in preventive health behaviors, even from people at low risk. Previous research demonstrates that belongingness to social groups can promote prosocial, preventive health behaviors. The current research tests the effects of belongingness to two types of groups, intimate (family) and social category (nation), on intentions to comply with preventive health behaviors and reasons for these behaviors. We conducted three studies using French participants at low risk of grave effects from COVID-19 (total N = 875). In Study 1, across three time periods, belongingness was correlated with greater intentions to comply with preventive behaviors when these behaviors were not enforced by law. In Study 2, we experimentally manipulated threat to belongingness (vs. no threat). When belongingness was threatened, participants were less concerned with protecting vulnerable people. Closeness to family predicted preventive behavior intentions and both self-centered and prosocial reasons for these behaviors, regardless of condition. National identification buffered the negative effects of the threat to belongingness condition on preventive behavior intentions. In Study 3, we experimentally primed thoughts of belongingness to family vs. nation vs. control condition. We found greater intentions to engage in preventive behaviors and greater concern with protecting oneself and close relatives in the family condition. In summary, belongingness to one's family promotes preventive behavior intentions and the reasons given are to protect both oneself and others. Self-reported (but not primed) national identification can be related to prevention behavior intentions under certain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëlle Marinthe
- Laboratoire Parisien de Psychologie Sociale, Université Paris 8, 2 rue de la Liberté, 93200 Saint-Denis, France.,Department of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Chodakowska 19/31, 03-815 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Genavee Brown
- Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, 2 Sandyford Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8QH, United Kingdom
| | - Thibault Jaubert
- Laboratoire Parisien de Psychologie Sociale, Université Paris Nanterre, 200 Avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France.,Laboratoire de Psychologie, Dynamiques Relationnelles et Processus Identitaires, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Esplanade Erasme, 21078 Dijon, France
| | - Peggy Chekroun
- Laboratoire Parisien de Psychologie Sociale, Université Paris Nanterre, 200 Avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France
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47
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Chmel K, Klimova A, Savin N. The effect of risk framing on support for restrictive government policy regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258132. [PMID: 34597334 PMCID: PMC8486149 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This confirmatory research investigates the influence of risk framing of COVID-19 on support for restrictive government policy based on two web survey experiments in Russia. Using 2x2 factorial design, we estimated two main effects-factors of risk severity (low vs. high) and object at risk (individual losses vs. losses to others). First, focusing on higher risks had a positive effect on support for the government's restrictive policy. Second, focusing on the losses for others did not produce stronger support for the restrictive policy compared to focusing on personal losses. However, we found a positive moderation effect of such prosocial values as universalism and benevolence. We found that those with prosocial values had a stronger positive effect in the "losses for others" condition and were more willing to support government restrictive policy when others were included. The effects found in our experimental study reveal both positive and negative aspects in risk communication during the pandemic, which may have a great and long-term impact on trust, attitudes, and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirill Chmel
- Ronald F. Inglehart Laboratory for Comparative Social Research, HSE University, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Department of Integrated Communications, Faculty of Communications, Media, and Design, HSE University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Aigul Klimova
- Ronald F. Inglehart Laboratory for Comparative Social Research, HSE University, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, HSE University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Nikita Savin
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, HSE University, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Politics & Psychology Research Laboratory, HSE University, Moscow, Russian Federation
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48
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Promoting physical distancing during COVID-19: a systematic approach to compare behavioral interventions. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19463. [PMID: 34593931 PMCID: PMC8484546 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98964-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing behavior turned out to be key to mitigating the virus spread. Therefore, it is crucial that we understand how we can successfully alter our behavior and promote physical distancing. We present a framework to systematically assess the effectiveness of behavioral interventions to stimulate physical distancing. In addition, we demonstrate the feasibility of this framework in a large-scale natural experiment (N = 639) conducted during an art fair. In an experimental design, we varied interventions to evaluate the effect of face masks, walking directions, and immediate feedback on visitors' contacts. We represent visitors as nodes, and their contacts as links in a contact network. Subsequently, we used network modelling to test for differences in these contact networks. We find no evidence that face masks influence physical distancing, while unidirectional walking directions and buzzer feedback do positively impact physical distancing. This study offers a feasible way to optimize physical distancing interventions through scientific research. As such, the presented framework provides society with the means to directly evaluate interventions, so that policy can be based on evidence rather than conjecture.
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49
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Farrell K, Durand H, McSharry J, Meade O, Kenny E, Noone C, O'Connor LL, Lavoie KL, Byrne M, Mooney R, McGuire BE, Molloy GJ. Exploring barriers and facilitators of physical distancing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study. HRB Open Res 2021; 4:50. [PMID: 34504992 PMCID: PMC8385454 DOI: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13295.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Physical distancing measures (e.g., keeping a distance of two metres from others, avoiding crowded areas, and reducing the number of close physical contacts) continue to be among the most important preventative measures used to reduce the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, it is important to understand barriers and facilitators of physical distancing to help inform future public health campaigns. Methods: The current study aimed to qualitatively explore barriers and facilitators of physical distancing in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic using a qualitative interpretative design. Semi-structured one-to-one phone interviews were conducted with 25 participants aged 18+ years and living in the Republic of Ireland between September and October 2020. A purposive sampling strategy was used to maximise diversity in terms of age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Analysis resulted in the development of six main themes related to barriers and facilitators of physical distancing: (1) Maintaining and negotiating close relationships; (2) Public environments support or discourage physical distancing; (3) Habituation to threat; (4) Taking risks to protect well-being; (5) Personal responsibility to control the "controllables"; and (6) Confusion and uncertainty around government guidelines. Conclusions: Physical distancing measures were judged to be more or less difficult based on a number of internal and external psychosocial factors. Barriers to distancing included difficulties maintaining and negotiating close relationships, habituation to COVID-19-related threat, risk compensation, and confusion and uncertainty around government guidelines. Having a sense of personal responsibility to prevent COVID-19 transmission through distancing was an important facilitator. The structure of public environments was viewed as both barrier and facilitator. Barriers and facilitators may vary depending on context and life stage, which should be considered in the design of interventions to target physical distancing behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Farrell
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, H91 EV56, Ireland
| | - Hannah Durand
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, H91 EV56, Ireland
| | - Jenny McSharry
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, H91 EV56, Ireland
| | - Oonagh Meade
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, H91 EV56, Ireland
| | | | - Eanna Kenny
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, H91 EV56, Ireland
| | - Chris Noone
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, H91 EV56, Ireland
| | - Laura L O'Connor
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, H91 EV56, Ireland
| | - Kim L Lavoie
- Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre, Centres intégrées universitaire de santé et de services sociaux du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS-NIM), Montreal, Quebec, QC H4J 1C5, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, QC H2L 2C4, Canada
| | - Molly Byrne
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, H91 EV56, Ireland
| | - Robert Mooney
- Communications, Department of Health, Government of Ireland, Dublin, D02 XW14, Ireland
| | - Brian E McGuire
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, H91 EV56, Ireland
| | - Gerard J Molloy
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, H91 EV56, Ireland
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50
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Ohtake F. Can nudges save lives? JAPANESE ECONOMIC REVIEW (OXFORD, ENGLAND) 2021; 73:245-268. [PMID: 34512099 PMCID: PMC8421189 DOI: 10.1007/s42973-021-00095-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
To assess the promotion of life saving behaviors and determine the sustainability of nudge message effects, this paper examines nudges that promote evacuation during heavy rainfall, preventative COVID-19 infection behaviors, and COVID-19 vaccination. The results showed that altruistic gain messages may have more sustained effects than others in promoting both evacuation during heavy rainfall and contact reduction behaviors as a measure against COVID-19 infection. Specifically, social influence nudges that use a gain frame to convey that a person's behavior promotes the behavior of others are effective for both heavy rainfall evacuations and encouraging COVID-19 vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumio Ohtake
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, 2-8, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
- Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University, 1-7, Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043 Japan
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