The COVID-19 pandemic has had massive global consequences that call for a better understanding of factors relating to people’s mental and behavioral responses. The present study explored factors that have been examined in past pandemics and expanded upon previous findings. We explored the links between individualistic/collectivistic orientations, germ aversion, and perceived infectability to individual worry and actions related to the pandemic. Using data collected via an online survey (N = 433, M age = 33.18, SD = 15.42), a series of hierarchical regressions and mediation tests were conducted. The results revealed that collectivistic orientation related to both actions and worry, and that worry mediated the association between collectivism and actions. Additionally, while germ aversion and perceived infectability were both significantly related to higher levels of worry, only germ aversion significantly related to higher levels of action-taking. Our findings suggest that messages centered around collectivistic values and germ aversion might improve adherence to public health guidelines.

Research suggests that parental factors like responsiveness, learning stimulation, and harshness plays a role in the development and maintenance of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Problems (ADHP). However, existing research utilizes a correlational, one-child-per-family approach that is unable to control for many confounding variables that might be accounting for links between parenting and ADHP. Consequently, it is crucial to understand whether previously unraveled associations still stand after accounting for a wide range of possible confounds. Using data from the mothers of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and their offspring (N= 11,521 participants), we employed a longitudinal, sibling comparison design to examine associations from parental responsiveness, learning stimulation, and harshness at ages 4-5, to ADHP at ages 6-9. In addition to using a sibling comparison to reduce confounding, we also controlled for maternal smoking or drinking during pregnancy, maternal age at childbirth, maternal delinquency and IQ, child gender, and birth order. At the population and sibling analysis levels, children with higher levels of learning stimulation at ages 4-5 had lower levels of ADHP at ages 6-9. Parental responsiveness and harshness at ages 4-5 did not predict child ADHP at ages 6-9. Our results highlight the significance of early learning stimulation in the development of ADHP and suggest that intervention and prevention efforts could benefit from encouraging parents to engage in cognitively stimulating activities.