RESUMO
Social norm has been found to impact compliance with COVID-19 preventative behaviors, including handwashing, wearing a face mask, social distancing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces. There is, however, a limited understanding of the social norm influence mechanisms and its boundary condition in the context of COVID-19. Guided by the theory of normative social behaviors (TNSB), this study conducted an online survey (N = 336) to examine whether perceived injunctive norms (PIN), outcome expectation (OE), group identity (GID), group orientation (GO), and cultural tightness-looseness (CTL) can moderate and/or mediate the relationship between perceived descriptive norms (PDN) and behavioral intentions (BI) to perform COVID-19 preventative behaviors in the United States. Results showed that whereas OE mediated the PDN-BI relationship to enact all four focal behaviors, PIN mediated the PDN-BI relationship for social distancing, wearing a face mask, and cleaning and disinfecting. However, inconsistent with the predictions, all five moderators (i.e. PIN, OE, GO, GID, and CTL) attenuated, instead of strengthening, the PDN-BI relationships for particular preventative behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Humanos , Estados Unidos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Comportamento Social , Normas Sociais , Intenção , Desinfecção das MãosRESUMO
This study examined risk perceptions, efficacy beliefs, social norms, and their interactions as predictors of people's intention to practice four COVID-19 preventative behaviors among a U.S. sample with quotas on age, sex, ethnicity, and region (N = 336). This online survey found that perceived injunctive norms predicted intentions to clean and disinfect (ß = 0.20), practice social distancing (ß = 0.14), and wear a face mask (ß = 0.24). Additionally, efficacy beliefs were found to attenuate the association between descriptive norm perceptions and intention to wash hands (B = -0.15) and wear a face mask(B = -0.12). The results revealed the importance of considering both psychological and social factors to promote COVID-19 preventative behaviors.