Social Distancing and COVID-19: Factors Associated With Compliance With Social Distancing Norms in Spain

Abstract

This article describes patterns of compliance with social distancing measures among the Spanish population during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It identifies several factors associated with higher or lower compliance with recommended measures of social distancing. This research is part of a 67-country study, titled the International COVID-19 study on Social & Moral Psychology, in which we use a Spanish dataset. Participants were residents in Spain aged 18 or above. The sample comprises 1,090 respondents, weighted to be representative of the Spanish population. Frequencies, correlations, bivariate analysis, and six models based on hierarchical multiple regressions were applied. The main finding is that most Spaniards are compliant with established guidelines of social distance during the pandemic (State of Alarm, before May 2020). Variables associated more with lower levels of compliance with these standards were explored. Six hierarchical multiple regression models found that compliance with social distance measures has a multifactorial explanation (R2 between 20.4 and 49.1%). Sociodemographic factors, personal hygiene patterns, and the interaction between personal hygiene patterns and the support for political measures related to the coronavirus brought significant effects on the regression models. Less compliance was also associated with beliefs in some specific conspiracy theories with regard to COVID-19 or general conspiracy mentality (Conspiracy Mentality Questionnaire, CMQ), consumption patterns of traditional mass media (television, paper newspapers, magazines, and radio) and modern means to get informed (online digital newspapers, blogs, and social networks), political ideology, vote, trust in institutions, and political identification. Among the future lines of action in preventing the possible outbreak of the virus, we suggest measures to reinforce trust in official information, mainly linked to reducing the influence of disinformation and conspiracy theories parallel to the pandemic.

Perimeter confinements of basic health zones and COVID-19 incidence in Madrid, Spain

“…For example, due to the high permeability between neighboring BHZs and associated difficulty in the evaluation of the citizens’ compliance to the measure, it has not been possible to determine if the policy was implemented effectively. In addition, a low risk perception towards the COVID-19 pandemic has been identified in the Spanish population during the time period under study [ 18 ], which could have been resulted in a decreased adherence to the policy [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Public Compliance Matters in Evidence-Based Public Health Policy: Evidence from Evaluating Social Distancing in the First Wave of COVID-19

“…They used individualism to explain the probability of disobedience [ 43 ]. Less adherence to the guidance was related to the acceptance of anecdote theory [ 44 ], whereas factors affecting the intent to obey included perceived susceptibility and benefits [ 45 , 46 ]. Given that, individual morality was highlighted in public health campaigns [ 47 ].…”

Sociodemographic factors and self-restraint from social behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: A cross-sectional study

“…Caselli, 2019 , Andersen et al, 2020 , Barari et al, 2021 , Gouin et al, 2021 , Coroiu et al, 2020 , Gualda et al, 2021 , Park et al, 2020 , Clark et al, 2020 , Smith et al, 2020 , Al Zabadi et al, 2021 , Papageorge et al, 2021 , Iio et al, 2021 , Watanabe and Yabu, 2021 .…”