Development of the Public Law-Abiding Beliefs and Practices Scale (PLABPS) and the relationship between health-related and non-health-related behaviors

Abstract

Background: Interactions between social and personal behavioral choices might explain why individuals behave differently with respect to public laws and regulations, some of which are known to influence individuals’ health. Evaluation of such interactions needs valid assessment tools. Objectives: The primary objective of the present study was to develop and validate the Public Law-Abiding Beliefs and Practices Scale (PLABPS). The second objective was to examine whether there was a significant association between health-related and non-health-related behaviors (including COVID-19 preventive behaviors). Methods: To develop the scale, several steps were taken including item suggestion, discussion by an expert panel, performing a pilot study on the initial scale, sequential item reduction to maximize internal consistency using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and finalizing the scale items through expert review. Data were collected from 1108 community-dwelling individuals aged 18 years and older. Internal consistency and construct validity of the PLABPS were examined. Results: A 10-item scale comprising two factors was extracted showing good psychometric properties. Confirmatory factor analysis results demonstrated good model fit indices (CMIN/DF: 2.340, SRMR = 0.053, RMSEA= 0.067, CFI= 0.960). The Cronbach alpha was 0.86 suggesting very good internal consistency. There was a significantly moderate association between PLABPS scores and COVID-19 preventive behaviors, indicating that individuals with greater law-abiding tendency were more likely to follow preventive COVID-19 behaviors. Conclusion: The PLABPS is a reliable and valid brief instrument for assessing individuals’ adherence to general public laws. The scale may predict COVID-19 protective behaviors and other health-related behaviors. Given its potential use with regard to psychosocial issues, the PLABPS may contribute to worldwide research in social and behavioral science fields.