Open AccessAge Differences in COVID-19 Preventive Behavior
Author(s) -
Lars Korn,
Regina Siegers,
Sarah Eitze,
Philipp Sprengholz,
Frederike Taubert,
Robert Böhm,
Cornelia Betsch
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european psychologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1878-531X
pISSN - 1016-9040
DOI - 10.1027/1016-9040/a000462
Subject(s) - psychology , risk perception , behavioral risk factor surveillance system , demographics , demography , perception , gerontology , german , covid-19 , public health , environmental health , medicine , disease , geography , nursing , infectious disease (medical specialty) , neuroscience , sociology , archaeology , pathology
. Age is a critical risk factor for severe COVID-19. This is mirrored by older people showing preventive health behaviors more frequently. However, collective action across all age groups is necessary to reduce transmission. Therefore, this study assessed whether age differences are moderated by policy changes and whether policies further moderate the relationship between psychological determinants of behavior (risk perceptions and trust), age, and preventive behaviors. Risk perceptions, trust in institutions, self-reported frequency of preventive behaviors (mask-wearing, avoiding social gatherings), and demographics (e.g., age) were collected within the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO), a German serial cross-sectional survey. A total of 19,069 participants across 20 measurement points were included (online sample, quota-representative for Age × Gender and federal state in Germany; mid-April to the end of November 2020). Regression analyses showed that age differences in avoiding social gatherings and mask-wearing remained stable under different health policies but were further moderated by psychological variables. The introduction of stricter policies alone was not related to higher adoption rates of preventive behaviors, but it mitigated the effects of age and risk perceptions. Moreover, under mandatory policies, the correlation between trust in institutions and behaviors was amplified. The present research made a strong case for quality, targeted health, and risk communication. Without mandatory policies, the importance of preventive behaviors must be well understood to achieve high adherence – especially in young people who are threatened by the disease less directly.