Logo image
Politicization of COVID-19 health-protective behaviors in the United States: Longitudinal and cross-national evidence
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Politicization of COVID-19 health-protective behaviors in the United States: Longitudinal and cross-national evidence

Wolfgang Stroebe, Michelle R. VanDellen, Georgios Abakoumkin, Edward P. Lemay, William M. Schiavone, Maximilian Agostini, Jocelyn J. Belanger, Ben Gutzkow, Jannis Kreienkamp, Anne Margit Reitsema, …
PloS one, Vol.16(10), p.1
10-20-2021
PMID: 34669724

Abstract

Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology Science & Technology - Other Topics
During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. conservative politicians and the media downplayed the risk of both contracting COVID-19 and the effectiveness of recommended health behaviors. Health behavior theories suggest perceived vulnerability to a health threat and perceived effectiveness of recommended health-protective behaviors determine motivation to follow recommendations. Accordingly, we predicted that-as a result of politicization of the pandemic-politically conservative Americans would be less likely to enact recommended health-protective behaviors. In two longitudinal studies of U.S. residents, political conservatism was inversely associated with perceived health risk and adoption of health-protective behaviors over time. The effects of political orientation on health-protective behaviors were mediated by perceived risk of infection, perceived severity of infection, and perceived effectiveness of the health-protective behaviors. In a global cross-national analysis, effects were stronger in the U.S. (N = 10,923) than in an international sample (total N = 51,986), highlighting the increased and overt politicization of health behaviors in the U.S.
url
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0256740&type=printableView
Published (Version of record) Open
url
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256740View
Published (Version of record) Open

Related links

Metrics

10 Record Views
97 Times Cited - Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
Logo image