Abstract
When ecological threats are more severe or prevalent, societies are more likely to tighten their social norms and punishments. Moreover, when people follow clear and tight rules, they are more prone to regulate their behavior (i.e., self-control) in order to avoid punishment. Therefore, we examined the mediating role of people’s endorsement of cultural tightness (i.e., support and desire) on the relationship between concern with COVID-19 threat and personal self-control. Our hypothesis was tested through a mediation model in two studies with a sample of (N=315, 77.1% females, Mage=23.71) university students (Study 1) and with a heterogeneous sample of (N=239, 65.7% females, Mage=36.55) participants (Study 2). Empirical support for the proposed model was found in both studies. Implications of this research will be discussed. The main implication is related to the possibility that people’s desire for strong norms to cope with the COVID-19 threat could promote greater self-regulated preventive behavior in order to protect their health.
Highlights
On March 11th, 2020, WHO defined the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19, as a worldwide pandemic
We tested a model in which desired tightness would mediate the link between the concern with COVID-19 threat and self-control in individuals. We examined this mediational model in two studies, using different samples and different self-report measures of desired tightness and personal ability to self-control constructs
Participants gave informed consent to participate in this research, completed an online questionnaire comprising the same measure of concern with COVID-19 used in Study 1, and different measures of desired tightness and self-control, as described below
Summary
On March 11th, 2020, WHO defined the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19, as a worldwide pandemic. Recent studies defined ecological threats, such as pathogens outbreaks, invasions, wars, population density, resource scarcity, or natural disasters, as factors arising from social or natural environment that threaten societies’ existence (Gelfand et al, 2011; Jackson et al, 2019, 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic can be clearly considered an ecological worldwide threat. Previous studies have shown that countries facing territorial threats or spread of diseases feel the need for severe norms and punishment of deviant behavior in order to maintain or restore the social order and group stability (Gelfand et al, 2011; Jackson et al, 2019). Strong social norms are helpful to prevent and control the spread of the infection. Many countries around the world have strengthened preventive security measures (e.g., social distancing, requirement to wear a mask, mandatory quarantine, and closure of national borders) to contain the transmission of the virus
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