Psychological Predictors of COVID-19 Prevention Behavior in Hungarian Women Across Different Generations

Abstract

BackgroundAge related differences were found in prevention behavior, showing that older individuals tend to be the most proactive. The aim of the study was the identification of psychological predictors on COVID-19 prevention behavior in women, across four generations. In addition, the predictive role of the psychological variables was explored through the lens of negative and positive information processing perspective on total and domain-specific COVID-19 prevention behavior.MethodsA cross-sectional research was conducted. The sample included 834 Hungarian speaking women. The assessed variables were: COVID-19 knowledge, risk perception, COVID-19 health anxiety, negative automatic thoughts, psychological flexibility, and four domains of COVID-19 prevention behavior (social distancing, general hygiene, information seeking, health behavior). A three-level hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the predictors of preventive behavior in each generation.ResultsA diversity across generations was found. In case of baby boomer generation, the final model explained 32.4% of the variance for total prevention behavior [F(14,215) = 8.847, p < 0.001], and only perceived risk made a significant contribution. For Gen X the final model accounted for 21.1% of variance of total prevention behavior [F(14,341) = 7.788, p < 0.001], marital status, perceived risk, COVID-19 health anxiety, and negative automatic thoughts made significant contributions. In case of Gen Y the final model accounted for 6.2% of variance on total prevention behavior [F(14,147) = 1.761, p = 0.05], only perceived risk had a contribution to the final model. For Gen Z the final model accounted for 23.4% of variance on total preventive behavior [F(13,71) = 2.979, p = 0.002], and only psychological flexibility made a contribution to the model. The results on the distinct domains of COVID-19 prevention behavior emphasized details in the dissimilarity among generations.ConclusionThe role of generational identity on COVID-19 prevention behavior is relevant. The coexistence of negative and positive information processing may have its beneficial role in certain areas of prevention.

Associations of COVID-19 Knowledge and Risk Perception with the Full Adoption of Preventive Behaviors in Seoul

“…Consistent with previous studies [49][50][51], our findings indicate that women are more likely than men to adopt preventive behaviors against COVID-19. Generally, women, compared with men, may have greater motivation to promote health [52], perceive the risk of a disease more deeply, and look into disease information more frequently [18].…”

Development and Validation of the Multidimensional COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Scale

“… 23 For example, prevention behavior in the context of COVID-19 was predicted by a tendency to focus on negative information in many generations. 24 Similarly, in the matter of vaccine uptake, negative information seems to elevate the chance of refusal or avoidance of the vaccines. 19 , 25 Vaccine hesitancy is associated with negative information processing and this can explain the overestimation of negative effects of vaccination and the underestimation of beneficial ones.…”

Face Covered and Six Feet Apart: Behavioral Awareness Predicts Greater Adherence to Public Health Guidelines during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Lastly, in the United States researchers found that individuals with greater psychological flexibility experienced reduced psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic [10]. Other studies have further investigated psychological flexibility as it relates to the pandemic in different outcomes, as well as the potentially protective effects of psychological flexibility on mental health during the pandemic [26][27][28][29]. As such, it is clear that psychological flexibility is an important modifiable transdiagnostic predictor of well-being and behavioral compliance during global adversity.…”