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

In: PsyCorona Collaboration , Stroebe , W , vanDellen , M R , Abakoumkin , G , Lemay , E P , Schiavone , W M , Agostini , M , Bélanger , J J , Gützkow , 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 , Damnjanović , K , Danyliuk , I , Dash , A , Di Santo , D , Douglas , K M , Enea , V , Faller , D G , Fitzsimons , G , Gheorghiu , A , Gómez , Á , Hamaidia , A , Han , Q , Jeronimus , B F , Koc , Y , Krause , J , Kutlaca , M , Martinez , A , McCabe , K O , Myroniuk , S , Nyúl , B , Ryan , M K , Sasin , E , Sultana , S , van Breen , J A , van Veen , K & Pontus Leander , N 2021 , ' Politicization of COVID-19 health-protective behaviors in the United States : Longitudinal and cross-national evidence ' , PLoS ONE , vol. 16 , e0256740 . https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256740 ; ISSN:1932-6203

Open Access

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 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.