Abstract
ObjectiveThe current study examined whether compliance with anti-pandemic measures during the COVID-19 pandemic relates to (a) importance of the fulfillment of core psychological needs, namely, relationship, self-esteem, efficacy, and pleasure; (b) coping behavior styles, namely, surrender, self-soothing, divert attention, and confrontation; and (c) worries or concerns beyond COVID-19 which may impair wellbeing.MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional design and online survey data from responses to a structured questionnaire developed within the theoretical framework of schema-based psychotherapy on psychological needs and coping behavior styles from 740 participants in Central Europe and West Africa.ResultsAnalysis indicated that people with the psychological needs of “pleasure” and “efficacy” and the coping style of “surrender” were more likely to comply with anti-pandemic measures. We also found that people with the coping style of “confrontation” were less likely to comply. There were no statistically significant relationships between compliance and “relationship,” “self-esteem,” “self-soothing,” “divert attention,” and “existential concerns.”DiscussionOur findings indicate that how likely a given individual is to comply with prescribed pandemic countermeasures varies based on their specific psychological needs and behavior styles. Therefore, to control contagion during a pandemic, authorities must recognize the relevance of human need fulfillment and their behavior styles and accordingly highlight and encourage admissible and feasible actions. The findings demonstrate that some individual differences in core psychological needs and coping behavior patterns predict compliance behavior.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has become an unprecedented global threat
We investigated whether concerns/ worry about issues beyond the pandemic affected compliance with pandemic-related restrictions by asking participants how worried they were about the following: (a) health issues, (b) crime and social insecurity, (c) setback at school or work, and (d) financial or economic problems
We assessed the importance of the core psychological needs during the pandemic and tested the hypotheses that with the topmost motivation being the gratification of the CPN for “relationship” or “self-esteem,” individuals would not comply with the anti-pandemic policies, but with the topmost motivation being “efficacy” or “pleasure,” individuals would comply with the anti-pandemic policies
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has become an unprecedented global threat. The Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (2020a) declared it a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, and a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The World Health Organization (2020b) and the disease control organizations of national governments have recommended a series of precautionary measures, including restrictions on travel, public gatherings, in-school teaching, and face-to-face interactions. Several of these measures were unusual prior to pandemic and are fiercely debated both in public and private as they have raised important questions about the meaning of life when basic needs are not met; the intrusive nature of preventive policies with their potential psychological and social consequences; and the risk of creating a new normal with restricted human rights and liberties, among other controversies
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