The predictors of adaptive and maladaptive coping behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Protection Motivation Theory and the Big Five personality traits.

Irena Pilch,Paulina Wardawy,Eryka Probierz,Arista Lahiri

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0258606

Irena Pilch, Paulina Wardawy + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258606

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Oct 19, 2021
Citations: 20	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Silesia, Institute of Psychology

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of the constructs proposed by two influential theoretical frameworks: the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and the Big Five (B5) model of personality in predicting health-related coping behavior during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Both adaptive (i.e., preventive) and maladaptive (i.e., avoidant behavior and wishful thinking) coping behavior was measured. The study was conducted during the first wave of the pandemic. The sample consisted of 397 persons from the general Polish population. The findings provided strong support for the PMT constructs’ predictive value, especially with regard to pandemic-related adaptive behavior. The B5 personality traits accounted for a small proportion of the variability of coping behavior, especially when maladaptive behavior was the outcome. The PMT model showed incremental validity over and above demographic variables and personality traits in predicting preventive behavior, avoidant behavior, and wishful thinking; however, the patterns of relationships differ across the types of coping behavior. According to the current results, to increase adherence to preventive measures during an epidemic, all the PMT constructs should be considered while persuasive communication to the public is formulated.

Highlights

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a state pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus leading to the COVID-19 disease [1]
The current study aims at investigating the relationships between coping behavior during the pandemic and a set of predictors derived from the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and the Big Five (B5) personality model
Three sets of behaviors related to the pandemic have been investigated: preventive behavior, avoidant behavior, and wishful thinking

Summary

Introduction

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a state pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus leading to the COVID-19 disease [1]. Due to the lack of pharmacological agents to effectively treat COVID-19, and with the aim of avoiding health care system overload, many countries imposed restrictions to contain the number of infections [1, 2]. Individuals differed considerably in their reactions to the restrictions: some treated the situation responsibly and observed the rules, while others did not respect the preventive measures, engaging in maladaptive behaviors [3,4,5,6]. Seeking the determinants of adaptive and maladaptive behaviors during the pandemic may contribute to a better understanding of how individuals function in a situation of serious threat.

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