Confidence in political leaders can slant risk perceptions of COVID–19 in a highly polarized environment

Abstract

Highlights Conservatives show lower risk perceptions of COVID-19 than liberals and moderates. Confidence in political leaders can reduce risk perceptions of COVID-19. It also can mediate the effects of political ideology on risk perceptions. Attention to news about the outbreak of COVID-19 is positively correlated with risk perceptions. Perceived quality of media coverage can lead to heightened risk perceptions of COVID-19.

Confidence in social institutions, perceived vulnerability and the adoption of recommended protective behaviors in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Confidence in social institutions is a central concept in the recreancy theory ( Khodyakov, 2007 ; Freudenburg, 2001). It reflects the public’s belief that social institutions have the competency, knowledge and ability to manage a major public health crisis and the perception that the policies developed by these institutions are in the best interests of the population ( Shao and Hao, 2020 ). In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, the voice of the government and the voice of health institutions and the media were not consistent in the evaluation of the risk and the social policy and responses required ( Freitas, Silva and Cidade, 2020 ).…”

“…The notion of legitimacy refers to whether governments are entitled to be obeyed ( Robertson 1985 ). The effective implementation of any public policy requires that state action be legitimate and so be accepted and acceptable ( Shao and Hao, 2020 ). Such legitimacy is reflected in the extent to which citizens tolerate the interventions of public organizations, accept these organizations’ decisions and cooperate to achieve the goals ( Rothstein 1998 ).…”

“…Such legitimacy is reflected in the extent to which citizens tolerate the interventions of public organizations, accept these organizations’ decisions and cooperate to achieve the goals ( Rothstein 1998 ). In social risk situations, such as epidemics, trust in the government to respond effectively, trust in health institutions to provide accurate information on prevention and treatment, and trust in the media to provide accurate information are important for the public to feel that their health interests will be attended to in the best manner possible ( Shao and Hao, 2020 ). Public organizations build their legitimacy when they demonstrate the values and norms that underlie or are associated with trust through their organizational and managerial practices ( Gregory 1995 ; Levi 1998 ).…”

Understanding the influence of contextual factors and individual social capital on American public mask wearing in response to COVID–19

“…A growing body of literature has focused on factors that influence people's cognitive and behavioral response to COVID–19 (e.g., Charles et al, 2020 ; Graham et al, 2020 ; Haischer et al, 2020 ; McFadden et al, 2020 ; Shao and Hao, 2020 ). Expanding from previous research, we focus on investigating two collective-level factors and one individual-level factor that have received less attention.…”

“…Previous studies on this topic primarily attributed American public response to individual-level factors, including sociodemographic background and political orientation ( Algara et al, 2021 ; Lunn et al, 2020 ; McFadden et al, 2020 ; Shao and Hao, 2020 ). For example, one study reveals that females and Catholics are more likely to practice social distancing ( Charles et al, 2020 ).…”