RT Journal Article
T1 Worry, Risk Perception, and Controllability Predict Intentions Toward COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors
A1 Sobkow, Agata
A1 Zaleskiewicz, Tomasz
A1 Petrova, Dafina
A1 Garcia-Retamero, Rocio
A1 Traczyk, Jakub
K1 COVID-19
K1 Risk perception
K1 Preventive behaviors
K1 Worry
K1 Controllability
K1 Numeracy
K1 Mental imagery
K1 Affect
K1 Infecciones por coronavirus
K1 Pandemia
K1 Afecto
K1 Ansiedad
K1 Autoeficacia
K1 Adaptación emocional
AB The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 has already had serious worldwide health, socio-economic, political, and educational consequences. In the present study, we investigated what factors can motivate young adults to comply with the recommended preventive measures against coronavirus infection. Even though young people are less likely to suffer severe medical consequences from the virus, they can still transmit it to more vulnerable individuals. Surprisingly, we found no significant effects of previously successful experimental manipulations (e.g., enhancing self-efficacy, and visual aids) that aimed to improve risk understanding and impact COVID-19 related behavioral intentions. Instead, intentions toward preventive behaviors were predicted by self-reported worry, perceived controllability of the pandemic, and risk perception. Interestingly, worry about health, and worry about restricting personal freedom predicted behavioral intentions in diverging directions. In particular, participants who were worried about health, were more willing to obey strict hygiene and social distancing restrictions. In contrast, participants who were worried about personal restrictions, were less ready to adopt these preventive actions.
PB Edited by: Peter Ayton, Leeds University Business School, United Kingdom. Published by: Frontiers
YR 2020
FD 2020-11-19
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/3420
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/3420
LA en
NO Sobkow A, Zaleskiewicz T, Petrova D, Garcia-Retamero R, Traczyk J. Worry, Risk Perception, and Controllability Predict Intentions Toward COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors. Front Psychol. 2020 Nov 19;11:582720.
DS RISalud
RD Apr 7, 2025