Risk perception and behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic: Predicting variables of compliance with lockdown measures.

Sara Lo Presti,Claudia Gianelli,Nicola Canessa,Giulia Mattavelli,Livio Provenzi

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0262319

Sara Lo Presti, Claudia Gianelli + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262319

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures to counteract it have highlighted the role of individual differences in evaluating and reacting to emergencies, and the challenges inherent in promoting precautionary behaviours. We aimed to explore the psychological and cognitive factors modulating behaviour and intentions during the national lockdown in Italy. We administered an online questionnaire (N = 244) that included tests for assessing personality traits (Temperament and Character Inventory; Locus of Control of Behaviour) and moral judgment (Moral Foundations Questionnaire), alongside behavioural economics tasks addressing different facets of risk attitude (loss aversion, risk aversion and delay discounting). We then assessed the extent to which individual variations in these dimensions modulated participants’ compliance with the lockdown norms. When assessing their joint contribution via multiple regressions, lockdown adherence was mostly predicted by internal locus of control, psycho-economic dimensions suggestive of long-sighted and loss-averse attitudes, as well as personality traits related to cautionary behaviour, such as harm avoidance, and the authority moral concern. These findings show that a multi-domain assessment of the factors underlying personal intentions, and thus driving compliance with government measures, can help predict individuals’ actions during health emergencies. This evidence points to factors that should be considered when developing interventions and communication strategies to promote precautionary behaviours.

Highlights

The COVID-19 outbreak compelled the sudden implementation of measures restricting freedom of movement and social interactions
Adequate reliability levels were found for all the subscales of Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI)-56, Moral Foundation Questionnaire (MFQ) and locus of control
We observed a wider range of alpha values, ranging from acceptable (0.63) to very good (0.83) reliability levels, for the five domains of the Moral Foundation Questionnaire (Harm/Care: 0.69; Fairness/ Reciprocity: 0.63; Ingroup/Loyalty: 0.77; Authority/Respect: 0.74; Purity/Sanctity: 0.83)

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 outbreak compelled the sudden implementation of measures restricting freedom of movement and social interactions. The uncertainty of the future and the unpredictability of events, linked to the virus mutations and the consequent measures to limit its spread, have led the population to manifest anxiety and stress-related behaviours [12, 13], such as the unprecedented episodes of panic buying [14, 15]. All these factors are likely to increase people’s difficulties in assessing potential risks [16, 17], and in implementing appropriate behaviours to counteract them

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