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

Stroebe, W.; Vandellen, M. R.; Abakoumkin, G.; Lemay, E. P.; Schiavone, W. M.; Agostini, M.; Belanger, J. J.; Gutzkow, B.; Kreienkamp, J.; Reitsema, A. M.; Abdul Khaiyom, J. H.; Ahmedi, V.; Akkas, H.; Almenara, C. A.; Atta, M.; Bagci, S. C.; Basel, S.; Kida, E. B.; Bernardo, A. B. I.; Buttrick, N. R.; Chobthamkit, P.; Choi, H. -S.; Cristea, M.; Csaba, S.; Damnjanovic, K.; Danyliuk, I.; Dash, A.; Di Santo, D.; Douglas, K. M.; Enea, V.; Faller, D. G.; Fitzsimons, G.; Gheorghiu, A.; Gomez, A.; Hamaidia, A.; Han, Q.; Helmy, M.; Hudiyana, J.; Jeronimus, B. F.; Jiang, D. -Y.; Jovanovic, V.; Kamenov, Z.; Kende, A.; Keng, S. -L.; Kieu, T. T. T.; Koc, Y.; Kovyazina, K.; Kozytska, I.; Krause, J.; Kruglanksi, A. W.; Kurapov, A.; Kutlaca, M.; Lantos, N. A.; Jaya Lemsmana, C. B.; Louis, W. R.; Lueders, A.; Malik, N. I.; Martinez, A.; Mccabe, K. O.; Mehulic, J.; Milla, M. N.; Mohammed, I.; Molinario, E.; Moyano, M.; Mula, S.; Muluk, H.; Myroniuk, S.; Najafi, R.; Nisa, C. F.; Nyul, B.; O'Keefe, P. A.; Olivas Osuna, J. J.; Osin, E. N.; Park, J.; Pica, G.; Pierro, A.; Rees, J.; Resta, E.; Rullo, M.; Ryan, M. K.; Samekin, A.; Santtila, P.; Sasin, E.; Schumpe, B. M.; Selim, H. A.; Stanton, M. V.; Sultana, S.; Sutton, R. M.; Tseliou, E.; Utsugi, A.; Van Breen, J. A.; Van Lissa, C. J.; Van Veen, K.; Vazquez, A.; Wollast, R.; Yeung, V. W. -L.; Zand, S.; Zezelj, I. L.; Zheng, B.; Zick, A.; Zuniga, C.; Pontus Leander, N.; Muhammad, H.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0256740

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.

Politicization of COVID-19 health-protective behaviors in the United States: longitudinal and cross-national evidence / Stroebe, W., Vandellen, M.R., Abakoumkin, G., Lemay, E.P., Schiavone, W.M., Agostini, M., Belanger, J.J., Gutzkow, B., Kreienkamp, J., Reitsema, A.M., Abdul Khaiyom, J.H., Ahmedi, V., Akkas, H., Almenara, C.A., Atta, M., Bagci, S.C., Basel, S., Kida, E.B., Bernardo, A.B.I., Buttrick, N.R., et al.. - In: PLOS ONE. - ISSN 1932-6203. - 16:10(2021). [10.1371/journal.pone.0256740]