Abstract
Purpose:The objective of this study is to identify the relationship between COVID-19 experiences, perceived COVID-19 behavioral control, social norms and attitudes, and future intention to follow social distancing guidelines.Design:This is a cross-sectional study.Setting:Participants responded to an on-line survey in June 2020.Subjects:The study included 3,183 residents within Quebec, Canada aged 18 and over.Measures:Measures include perceived COVID-19 related discrimination, fear of COVID-19 infection, prior exposure to COVID-19, and prior social distancing behavior. Participants self-reported attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and perceived norms related to social distancing. Finally, we measured social distancing behavioral intention.Analysis:We evaluated a theory of planned behavior (TPB) measurement model of social distancing using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The association between COVID-19 perceived discrimination, fear of infection, previous social distancing behavior, exposure to COVID-19, TPB constructs and behavioral intentions to social distance were estimated using SEM path analysis.Results:TPB constructs were positively associated with intention to follow social distancing guidelines. Fear of COVID-19 infection and prior social distancing behavior were positively associated with behavioral intentions. In contrast, perceived discrimination was negatively associated with the outcome. Associations between fear of COVID-19, perceived COVID-19 discrimination and behavioral intentions were partially mediated by constructs of TPB.Conclusions:COVID-19 prevention efforts designed to emphasize positive attitudes, perceived control, and social norms around social distancing should carefully balance campaigns that heighten fear of infection along with anti- discrimination messaging.
Highlights
The objective of this study is to identify the relationship between COVID-19 experiences, perceived COVID-19 behavioral control, social norms and attitudes, and future intention to follow social distancing guidelines
The overall objective of this study is to identify the relationship between COVID-19 experiences, theory of planned behavior (TPB) constructs, and intention to follow social distancing guidelines
Correlations between TPB constructs and constructs of prior social distancing behavior and fear of COVID-19 infection were positive, as anticipated, with correlations ranging from relatively small (r 1⁄4 .18, Fear and Prior behavior) to large (r 1⁄4 .58, Prior Behavior and Future Intention)
Summary
The objective of this study is to identify the relationship between COVID-19 experiences, perceived COVID-19 behavioral control, social norms and attitudes, and future intention to follow social distancing guidelines. Conclusions: COVID-19 prevention efforts designed to emphasize positive attitudes, perceived control, and social norms around social distancing should carefully balance campaigns that heighten fear of infection along with anti- discrimination messaging. Emerging research on COVID-19 prevention behaviors is using the TPB model to explain why individuals do or do not follow social distancing guidelines.[13,14,15] Other individual-level factors, such perceived risk, stigma, and personality traits, are theorized as more distal predictors of behavior, with their pathways to behavioral intention mediated by or interacting with TPB constructs.[16]. COVID-19 research has examined the relationship between discriminatory attitudes toward people with COVID-19 and engaging in social distancing,[21,22] and not, to our knowledge, on the association between personal experiences of discrimination and following prevention guidelines
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
