Sobkow, AgataZaleskiewicz, TomaszPetrova, DafinaGarcia-Retamero, RocioTraczyk, Jakub2021-11-262021-11-262020-11-19Sobkow 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.http://hdl.handle.net/10668/3420The 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.enAtribución 4.0 Internacionalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/COVID-19Risk perceptionPreventive behaviorsWorryControllabilityNumeracyMental imageryAffectInfecciones por coronavirusPandemiaAfectoAnsiedadAutoeficaciaAdaptación emocionalMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Virus Diseases::RNA Virus Infections::Nidovirales Infections::Coronaviridae Infections::Coronavirus InfectionsMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Resilience, PsychologicalMedical Subject Headings::Persons::Persons::Age Groups::Adult::Young AdultMedical Subject Headings::Persons::Persons::Age Groups::AdolescentMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Environment and Public Health::Public Health::Disease Outbreaks::Epidemics::PandemicsMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Motivation::IntentionMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Investigative Techniques::Epidemiologic Methods::Data Collection::Questionnaires::Self ReportMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Mental HealthMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Personality::Personality Development::Self Concept::Self EfficacyMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::MotivationMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Emotions::AnxietyMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Population Characteristics::Socioeconomic Factors::Educational Statusresearch article33329239Acceso abierto10.3389/fpsyg.2020.5827201664-1078PMC7710521