Open AccessBeliefs Underlying US Adults’ Intention to Stay Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
Christopher D. Owens,
Kristina Hunter-Mullis,
Jonathan T. Macy,
Stephanie Dickinson,
Susan E. Middlestadt
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
health behavior and policy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2326-4403
DOI - 10.14485/hbpr.9.2.9
Subject(s) - social norms approach , psychological intervention , norm (philosophy) , self efficacy , psychology , pandemic , descriptive statistics , covid-19 , social psychology , panel survey , structural equation modeling , medicine , clinical psychology , demography , political science , psychiatry , disease , sociology , statistics , mathematics , pathology , neuroscience , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law , perception
Objective: In this study, we estimated the relative contribution of 4 Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) belief determinants in explaining intention to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were obtained from a survey of a nationally representative sample of US adults (N = 942) conducted April 10-20, 2020 (about one-month after initial stay-at-home orders were implemented) using a probability-based Internet household panel (Ipsos KnowledgePanel). Multiple regression analysis tested the association between attitude, injunctive norm, descriptive norm, and self-efficacy and intention to stay home for the next month while controlling for demographic factors. We tested for a moderating effect of worker status on the relationships between the 4 RAA beliefs and intention. Results: Instrumental attitude, injunctive norm, descriptive norm, and self-efficacy demonstrated statistically significant independent associations with intention to stay home. Self-efficacy showed the highest independent association. However, this relation was modified by an interaction between self-efficacy and worker status, revealing that self-efficacy is particularly important for essential workers. Conclusions: These findings suggest that public health strategies to increase individuals’ intention to stay home and encourage adherence to stayat- home policies should focus on enhancing self-efficacy with communication and policy supports. To be most effective, interventions should be targeted based on worker status.