Compliance with the mask regime and social distancing during a pandemic in the city: a factor of reducing external control and features of practices

Abstract

Purpose of the study. Identification of the main characteristics of compliance with pandemic restrictions in public places during the easing of restrictions, e.g. the correlation of declarations of commitment to measures and the real behavior of the population. Material and methods. A sociological study was carried out using the method of standardized observation in the city of Moscow on July 15–25, 2020. Observation points in the metro, ground transport, shops of various price categories and shopping centers were selected. More than 16748 observations were made within the quantitative and qualitative stages. Results and discussion. A significant discrepancy (up to 4 times) between the declared adherence to masks (2 Moscow surveys was studied) and the real one was revealed, the possible reasons for this were considered (social desirability, questionnaire features, sampling shift). The approach to the survey data as indicators of adherence rather than behavior merics is proposed. The diversity and polarization of the practices of wearing masks and maintaining social distance — «positive» and «negative», formal and informal are under analysis. Possible factors of this diversity, features of practice in different places are considered. Observation groups are analyzed, both adherent to wearing masks (women, elder persons, migrants) and non-adherent (young adults, middle age men). The practice of situational social «mimicry» is described, when, under the guise of taking care of health, people wanted to get more comfortable travel conditions in transport.