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

Stroebe, Wolfgang and vanDellen, Michelle R and Abakoumkin, Georgios and Lemay Jr., Edward P and Schiavone, Wlliam M. and Agostini, Maximilian and Belanger, Jocelyn J and Gutzkow, Ben and Kreienkamp, Jannis and Reitsema, Anne Margit and Abdul Khaiyom, Jamilah Hanum and PsyCorona, Collaboration and Leander, N Pontus (2021) Politicization of COVID-19 health-protective behaviors in the United States: Longitudinal and cross-national evidence. PLOS ONE, 16 (10). ISSN 1932-6203

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Abstract

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 recom-mended 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 interna-tional sample (total N = 51,986), highlighting the increased and overt politicization of health behaviors in the U.S.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF636 Applied psychology H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) J Political Science > JA Political science (General) R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA644.C67 Coronavirus infections. COVID-19 (Disease). COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Psychology
Depositing User:	Dr Jamilah Hanum Abdul Khaiyom
Date Deposited:	03 Jan 2022 08:48
Last Modified:	03 Jan 2022 08:48
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/95824

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