Lessons learned about willingness to adopt various protective measures during the early COVID-19 pandemic in three countries

Ana Paula Santana (Corresponding author), Lars Korn, Cornelia Betsch, Robert Böhm

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

BackgroundRegarding the COVID-19 pandemic, concerted efforts have been invested in research to investigate and communicate the importance of complying with protective behaviors, such as handwashing and mask wearing. Protective measures vary in how effective they are in protecting the individual against infection, how much experience people have with them, whether they provide individual or societal protection, and how they are perceived on these dimensions. MethodsThis study assessed the willingness to follow recommended measures, depending on these features, among participants from Germany (n = 333), Hong Kong (n = 367), and the U.S. (n = 495). From April 24(th) to May 1(st), 2020, individuals completed an online survey that assessed the antecedents of interest. ResultsIt was shown that assumed effectiveness, previous experience, and intended self- and other-protection positively predicted willingness to comply across countries. When measures were mainly perceived as protecting others (vs. the self), individuals were less prone to adopt them. When a measure's effectiveness to protect the individual was perceived as lower, willingness to adopt the measure increased with higher levels of prior experience and collectivism. Moreover, protecting others was more strongly related to adoption when individuals had higher levels of collectivism and lower levels of individualism. ConclusionsEmphasizing the benefit for others could be a means to lower the potential detrimental effects of low assumed effectiveness for individual protection.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0265892
Number of pages15
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Mar 2022
Externally publishedYes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 501021 Social psychology

Keywords

  • COVID-19/epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Hand Disinfection
  • Humans
  • Masks
  • Pandemics/prevention & control
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • SARS-CoV-2

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