Normative beliefs and their association with COVID-19 protective behaviors and beliefs
Abstract
Background: Subjective norms about health behaviors influence health decisions, and are relevant for decisions regarding protective behaviors of COVID-19. The purpose of the current study was to investigate associations between subjective norms and social distancing, perceptions of efficacy of protective behaviors, and returning to pre-pandemic social behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore demographic moderators of these relationships.
Method: Using a longitudinal study, U.S. adults (N=507) from 48 states and the District of Columbia reported their perceptions and protective behaviors related to COVID-19 during April 2020 and July 2020. Participants were on average 50.39 years of age, 50.9% female, and majority Non-Hispanic White (71.6%). Participants rated their subjective norms of protective behaviors, perceptions of efficacy of protective behaviors, and social distancing behaviors (e.g., staying 6 feet from others).
Results: Subjective norms at Time 1, predicted lower norms, more frequent social distancing, stronger perceptions of the efficacy of protective behaviors, and less engagement in pre-pandemic social behaviors at Time 2 (all ps < .001). These associations were not moderated by age, race/ethnicity, or gender (all ps > .05).
Conclusion: These outcomes suggest that subjective norms predict COVID-19-related perceptions and behaviors, and that these associations were uniform across different demographic factors. This work emphasizes the importance of social norms about COVID-19 protective behaviors and beliefs. Normative beliefs could be targeted to enhance protective behaviors, such as staying socially distanced from others, to curb the impact of viral outbreaks such as COVID-19.
About the Presenters
Alex McAllister
Alex McAllister is a Psychology student who is completing the last year of his bachelor's degree. Before attending WSUV, he spent four years in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in Okinawa Japan. Alex has always had a strong passion for psychology and hopes to someday teach psychology to undergraduates at a University. Alex is currently working under Dr. Renee Magnan as a research assistant.
Zacheria Krocka
Zacheria Krocka is a transfer student from Clark College and is currently a junior at WSUV studying psychology. After 15 years in the freight industry Zach decided that he would change his career and go back to school. Zach has always been interested about psychology and plans on using his degree to work directly with people. Zach loves spending time with his three teenagers and they keep him engaged in a variety of activities.