Violating social distancing amid the COVID‐19 pandemic: Psychological factors to improve compliance

• DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12853
• Publication Date: 2021-12-30T06:53:46Z
• Authors: Jéssica Farias; Ronaldo Pilati
• Keywords: Individual Differences; PsyArXiv|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Social and Personality Psychology|Social Influence; PsyArXiv|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Social and Personality Psychology|Individual Differences; Social Influence; 1. No poverty; Social and Personality Psychology; Social and Behavioral Sciences; 3. Good health; PsyArXiv|Social and Behavioral Sciences; 8. Economic growth; bepress|Social and Behavioral Sciences; bepress|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Psychology|Social Psychology; bepress|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Psychology|Personality and Social Contexts; PsyArXiv|Social and Behavioral Sciences|Social and Personality Psychology; 10. No inequality

AbstractThis study uses the theory of planned behavior as a framework to predict intentions of noncompliance with social distancing during the COVID‐19 pandemic while also assessing the predictive role of intolerance of uncertainty and sociodemographic variables. A total of 2,056 Brazilian participants completed measures on attitudes, injunctive, and descriptive norms, and perceived behavioral control toward social distancing. They also answered about their political ideology, income, employment status, gender, age, and educational level. Our findings indicate that positive attitudes toward complying with physical distancing, stronger descriptive norms using ingroup members as referents, and weaker perceived behavioral control over the action of breaching social distancing predict stronger adherence. Besides, individuals who support right‐wing parties, younger people, and males are more prone to noncompliance. We suggest designing interventions that foster positive attitudes toward social distancing and address the negative consequences that violating social distancing can cause to in‐group members to persuade individuals to stay at home. We also discuss the need for support from prominent political figures to increase adherence to this preventive measure.