Distinction through distancing: Norm formation and enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic

Mercer, Katie Holstein; Mollborn, Stefanie

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116334

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 29 publications

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“…Our findings also nuance previous results: whereas previous cross-sectional research highlighted the importance of self-efficacy and social norms (Dixon, Den Daas, Hubbard, & Johnston, 2022;Liang et al, 2022), we only find a direct, small association between self-efficacy and handwashing, while descriptive norms only had an indirect effect in our within-person models. Earlier cross-sectional associations between descriptive norms and behaviour may have been overestimated due to social selection: when some groups such as people with a higher socioeconomic status are more likely to adhere to (health) behavioural guidelines, partly due to factors such as higher efficacy beliefs, they will tend to report both higher adherence as well as related descriptive norms (Bish & Michie, 2010;Mercer & Mollborn, 2023). This, in turn, could create a large, mostly spurious association between descriptive norms and behaviour.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychosocial determinants of handwashing and physical distancing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands: a longitudinal analysis

Bussemakers,

Stappers,

Kroese

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Objectives: Physical distancing and handwashing can be important infection prevention measures during an infectious disease outbreak such as the Covid-19 pandemic. To stimulate these behaviours, knowledge of psychosocial determinants as well as contextual factors is vital. We present longitudinal, within-person analyses of the impact of contextual and psychosocial factors for handwashing and distancing behaviour. Design: We used individual-level data (186,490 participants completing 971,899 surveys) from the Corona Behavioural Unit Covid-19 Cohort, a dynamic cohort study conducted during 26 months of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands. Methods: Fixed-effects models were employed to estimate within-person associations between psychosocial factors and behaviour, combined with main and moderating effects of contextual factors. Results: Pandemic severity was associated with more handwashing and distancing behaviour, while the duration of the pandemic had little effect. Within-person changes in response efficacy were most relevant for changes in both handwashing and distancing behaviour, while self-efficacy, descriptive norms and perceived severity of infecting others affected behaviour indirectly. These effects were stable over time. Associations were larger in cross-sectional models, indicating such models tend to overestimate effects.Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of longitudinal data and within-person models to detect possible causal associations. The results suggest that during an outbreak, government and public health professionals should clearly communicate the severity of the pandemic (e.g., hospitalization rates) and the effectiveness of recommended prevention measures in reducing that risk; and seek to improve people’s capabilities and opportunities to adhere to guidelines, for example by modifying the environment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychosocial determinants of handwashing and physical distancing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands: a longitudinal analysis

Bussemakers,

Stappers,

Kroese

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Schematising COVID-19 pandemic responses: An ideal typical analysis

Monaghan

2024

Social Science & Medicine

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Psychosocial determinants of handwashing and physical distancing behaviour during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the Netherlands: A longitudinal analysis

Bussemakers,

Stappers,

Kroese

et al. 2024

British J Health Psychol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectivesPhysical distancing and handwashing can be important infection prevention measures during an infectious disease outbreak such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. To stimulate these behaviours, knowledge of psychosocial determinants as well as contextual factors is vital. We present longitudinal, within‐person analyses of the impact of contextual and psychosocial factors on handwashing and distancing behaviour.DesignWe used individual‐level data (186,490 participants completing 971,899 surveys) from the Corona Behavioural Unit COVID‐19 Cohort, a dynamic cohort study conducted during 26 months of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the Netherlands.MethodsFixed‐effects models were employed to estimate within‐person associations between psychosocial factors and behaviour, combined with main and moderating effects of contextual factors.ResultsPandemic severity was associated with more handwashing and distancing behaviour, while the duration of the pandemic had little effect. Within‐person changes in response efficacy were most relevant for changes in both handwashing and distancing behaviour, while self‐efficacy, descriptive norms and perceived severity of infecting others affected behaviour indirectly. These effects were stable over time. Associations were larger in cross‐sectional models, indicating that such models tend to overestimate effects.ConclusionsOur study highlights the importance of longitudinal data and within‐person models to detect possible causal associations. The results suggest that during an outbreak, government and public health professionals should clearly communicate the severity of the pandemic (e.g., hospitalization rates) and the effectiveness of recommended prevention measures in reducing that risk; and seek to improve people's capabilities and opportunities to adhere to guidelines, for example, by modifying the environment.

show abstract

Distinction through distancing: Norm formation and enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 4 publications

References 29 publications

Psychosocial determinants of handwashing and physical distancing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands: a longitudinal analysis

Psychosocial determinants of handwashing and physical distancing behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Netherlands: a longitudinal analysis

Schematising COVID-19 pandemic responses: An ideal typical analysis

Psychosocial determinants of handwashing and physical distancing behaviour during the COVID‐19 pandemic in the Netherlands: A longitudinal analysis

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