What drives preventative health behaviors one year into a pandemic? A replication and extension.
Saved in:
| Title: | What drives preventative health behaviors one year into a pandemic? A replication and extension. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Disabato, David J. (AUTHOR), Foust, Jeremy L. (AUTHOR), Taber, Jennifer M. (AUTHOR), Thompson, Clarissa A. (AUTHOR), Sidney, Pooja G. (AUTHOR), Coifman, Karin G. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Psychology & Health. Nov2025, Vol. 40 Issue 11, p1968-1991. 24p. |
| Subjects: | Fear, Self-evaluation, Research funding, Questionnaires, Anxiety, Descriptive statistics, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Health behavior, Comparative studies, Data analysis software, Factor analysis, Preventive health services, COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19, Regression analysis, Social distancing |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | Objective: There is continued interest in understanding what leads people to engage in CDC-recommended COVID-19 prevention behaviors. We tested whether fear and COVID-19 worry would replicate as the primary drivers of six CDC recommended prevention behaviors. Methods and Measures: We recruited 741 adult participants during the second major peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States (early 2021). Using very similar methods to the original study, participants completed a 10-day daily diary. Mixed effects models identified the strongest predictors of each individual prevention behavior as well as approach and avoidance behavior clusters. Results: At the between-person level, COVID-19 worry, COVID-19 perceived susceptibility, fear, and positive emotions all had positive zero-order associations with the prevention behaviors. However, with all predictors in the same model together, primarily COVID-19 worry remained significant for both the individual behaviors and behavior clusters. At the within-person level, only fear related to assessing oneself for COVID-19 and approach behaviors on the same day, but not the next day. Mediational analyses suggested COVID-19 worry, but not COVID-19 susceptibility, mediated the links between fear and approach/avoidance behaviors. Conclusion: Findings replicated worry about yourself or a loved one getting COVID-19 as the strongest predictor of prevention behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Psychology & Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Objective: There is continued interest in understanding what leads people to engage in CDC-recommended COVID-19 prevention behaviors. We tested whether fear and COVID-19 worry would replicate as the primary drivers of six CDC recommended prevention behaviors. Methods and Measures: We recruited 741 adult participants during the second major peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States (early 2021). Using very similar methods to the original study, participants completed a 10-day daily diary. Mixed effects models identified the strongest predictors of each individual prevention behavior as well as approach and avoidance behavior clusters. Results: At the between-person level, COVID-19 worry, COVID-19 perceived susceptibility, fear, and positive emotions all had positive zero-order associations with the prevention behaviors. However, with all predictors in the same model together, primarily COVID-19 worry remained significant for both the individual behaviors and behavior clusters. At the within-person level, only fear related to assessing oneself for COVID-19 and approach behaviors on the same day, but not the next day. Mediational analyses suggested COVID-19 worry, but not COVID-19 susceptibility, mediated the links between fear and approach/avoidance behaviors. Conclusion: Findings replicated worry about yourself or a loved one getting COVID-19 as the strongest predictor of prevention behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 08870446 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/08870446.2024.2372651 |
