1. Politicization of COVID-19 health-protective behaviors in the United States: Longitudinal and cross-national evidence.
- Author
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Stroebe W, vanDellen MR, Abakoumkin G, Lemay EP Jr, Schiavone WM, Agostini M, Bélanger JJ, Gützkow B, Kreienkamp J, Reitsema AM, Abdul Khaiyom JH, Ahmedi V, Akkas H, Almenara CA, Atta M, Bagci SC, Basel S, Berisha Kida E, Bernardo ABI, Buttrick NR, Chobthamkit P, Choi HS, Cristea M, Csaba S, Damnjanović K, Danyliuk I, Dash A, Di Santo D, Douglas KM, Enea V, Faller DG, Fitzsimons G, Gheorghiu A, Gómez Á, Hamaidia A, Han Q, Helmy M, Hudiyana J, Jeronimus BF, Jiang DY, Jovanović V, Kamenov Ž, Kende A, Keng SL, Kieu TTT, Koc Y, Kovyazina K, Kozytska I, Krause J, Kruglanksi AW, Kurapov A, Kutlaca M, Lantos NA, Lemsmana CBJ, Louis WR, Lueders A, Malik NI, Martinez A, McCabe KO, Mehulić J, Milla MN, Mohammed I, Molinario E, Moyano M, Muhammad H, Mula S, Muluk H, Myroniuk S, Najafi R, Nisa CF, Nyúl B, O'Keefe PA, Olivas Osuna JJ, Osin EN, Park J, Pica G, Pierro A, Rees J, Resta E, Rullo M, Ryan MK, Samekin A, Santtila P, Sasin E, Schumpe BM, Selim HA, Stanton MV, Sultana S, Sutton RM, Tseliou E, Utsugi A, van Breen JA, Van Lissa CJ, Van Veen K, Vázquez A, Wollast R, Wai-Lan Yeung V, Zand S, Žeželj IL, Zheng B, Zick A, Zúñiga C, and Leander NP
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 prevention & control, Health Behavior, Motivation, Pandemics prevention & control, Politics, SARS-CoV-2
- Abstract
During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. conservative politicians and the media downplayed the risk of both contracting COVID-19 and the effectiveness of recommended health behaviors. Health behavior theories suggest perceived vulnerability to a health threat and perceived effectiveness of recommended health-protective behaviors determine motivation to follow recommendations. Accordingly, we predicted that-as a result of politicization of the pandemic-politically conservative Americans would be less likely to enact recommended health-protective behaviors. In two longitudinal studies of U.S. residents, political conservatism was inversely associated with perceived health risk and adoption of health-protective behaviors over time. The effects of political orientation on health-protective behaviors were mediated by perceived risk of infection, perceived severity of infection, and perceived effectiveness of the health-protective behaviors. In a global cross-national analysis, effects were stronger in the U.S. (N = 10,923) than in an international sample (total N = 51,986), highlighting the increased and overt politicization of health behaviors in the U.S., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Published
- 2021
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