Worry, Risk Perception, and Controllability Predict Intentions Toward COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Agata Sobkow¹  Tomasz Zaleskiewicz²  Dafina Petrova³  Rocio Garcia-Retamero⁶  Jakub Traczyk¹ 

[1] Faculty of Psychology in Wrocław, Center for Research on Improving Decision Making (CRIDM), SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities;Faculty of Psychology in Wrocław, Center for Research in Economic Behavior, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities;Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública;Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA;CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP);Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Granada

关键词: COVID-19;    risk perception;    preventive behaviors;    worry;    controllability;    numeracy;    mental imagery;    affect;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.582720

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 has already had serious worldwide health, socio-economic, political, and educational consequences. In the present study, we investigated what factors can motivate young adults to comply with the recommended preventive measures against coronavirus infection. Even though young people are less likely to suffer severe medical consequences from the virus, they can still transmit it to more vulnerable individuals. Surprisingly, we found no significant effects of previously successful experimental manipulations (e.g., enhancing self-efficacy, and visual aids) that aimed to improve risk understanding and impact COVID-19 related behavioral intentions. Instead, intentions toward preventive behaviors were predicted by self-reported worry, perceived controllability of the pandemic, and risk perception. Interestingly, worry about health, and worry about restricting personal freedom predicted behavioral intentions in diverging directions. In particular, participants who were worried about health, were more willing to obey strict hygiene and social distancing restrictions. In contrast, participants who were worried about personal restrictions, were less ready to adopt these preventive actions.

【 授权许可】

CC BY