ABSTRACT
Until pharmacological measures are rolled out on a global scale, reducing the transmission of COVID-19 and preventing future outbreaks require the continued promotion of behaviors known to effectively limit the spread of infections (e.g., physical distancing, hand hygiene practices). The success of such behavioral measures, however, relies on widespread compliance, highlighting the importance of theory-and evidence-based behavior change interventions targeting COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Theories of social cognition have recently been applied to COVID-19 preventive behaviors to identify the key modifiable determinants of behavior that can be targeted by strategies or techniques in interventions. The identification of key modifiable determinants of COVID-19 preventive behaviors permits the matching of evidence-based behavior change strategies or techniques proposed to affect change in the targeted determinants. The goal of this chapter is to provide an overview of the social cognition literature and interventions targeting key psychological constructs as means to adopt and maintain COVID-19 preventive behaviors. The chapter also provides example materials used in behavior change interventions based on social cognition theory, which may have application across a broad range of COVID-19 preventive behaviors. First, the chapter provides an overview of social cognition theories that have been used to explain and predict health and social behavior and how behavior change occurs. Next, the emerging research evidence of potentially modifiable social cognition determinants of COVID-19 preventive behaviors are reviewed. Finally, a step-by-step example of how interventionists might develop a theory-based intervention targeting change in an important COVID-19 preventive behavior is provided. The chapter concludes with a summary of some key challenges and future directions in moving forward behavior change research in this area. Overall, this chapter provides information useful to the design and development of effective behavior change interventions targeting the adoption and maintenance of COVID-19 preventive behaviors which are relevant to current and future pandemic contexts. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.