Conceptual replication and extension of health behavior theories' predictions in the context of COVID-19: Evidence across countries and over time

Abakoumkin G.; Tseliou E.; McCabe K.O.; Lemay E.P., Jr.; Stroebe W.; Agostini M.; Bélanger J.J.; Gützkow B.; Kreienkamp J.; Kutlaca M.; VanDellen M.R.; Abdul Khaiyom J.H.; Ahmedi V.; Akkas H.; Almenara C.A.; Atta M.; Bagci S.C.; Basel S.; Berisha Kida E.; Bernardo A.B.I.; Buttrick N.R.; Chobthamkit P.; Choi H.-S.; Cristea M.; Csaba S.; Damnjanovic K.; Danyliuk I.; Di Santo D.; Douglas K.M.; Enea V.; Faller D.G.; Fitzsimons G.; Gheorghiu A.; Gómez Á.; Grzymala-Moszczynska J.; Hamaidia A.; Han Q.; Helmy M.; Hudiyana J.; Jeronimus B.F.; Jiang D.-Y.; Jovanović V.; Kamenov Ž.; Kende A.; Keng S.-L.; Kieu T.T.T.; Koc Y.; Kovyazina K.; Kozytska I.; Krause J.; Kruglanski A.W.; Kurapov A.; Lantos N.A.; Lesmana C.B.J.; Louis W.R.; Lueders A.; Malik N.I.; Martinez A.; Mehulić J.; Milla M.N.; Mohammed I.; Molinario E.; Moyano M.; Muhammad H.; Mula S.; Muluk H.; Myroniuk S.; Najafi R.; Nisa C.F.; Nyúl B.; O’Keefe P.A.; Olivas Osuna J.J.; Osin E.N.; Park J.; Pica G.; Pierro A.; Rees J.; Reitsema A.M.; Resta E.; Rullo M.; Ryan M.K.; Samekin A.; Santtila P.; Sasin E.; Schumpe B.M.; Selim H.A.; Stanton M.V.; Sultana S.; Sutton R.M.; Utsugi A.; van Breen J.A.; Van Lissa C.J.; Van Veen K.; Vázquez A.; Wollast R.; Yeung V.W.-L.; Zand S.; Žeželj I.L.; Zheng B.; Zick A.; Zúñiga C.; Leander N.P. · Social and Personality Psychology Compass (2024) · DOI: 10.1111/spc3.12909

Resumen

Virus mitigation behavior has been and still is a powerful means to fight the COVID-19 pandemic irrespective of the availability of pharmaceutical means (e.g., vaccines). We drew on health behavior theories to predict health-protective (coping-specific) responses and hope (coping non-specific response) from health-related cognitions (vulnerability, severity, self-assessed knowledge, efficacy). In an extension of this model, we proposed orientation to internal (problem-focused coping) and external (country capability) coping resources as antecedents of health protection and hope; health-related cognitions were assumed as mediators of this link. We tested these predictions in a large multi-national multi-wave study with a cross-sectional panel at T1 (Baseline, March-April 2020; N = 57,631 in 113 countries) and a panel subsample at two later time points, T2 (November 2020; N = 3097) and T3 (April 2021; N = 2628). Multilevel models showed that health-related cognitions predicted health-protective responses and hope. Problem-focused coping was mainly linked to health-protective behaviors (T1-T3), whereas country capability was mainly linked to hope (T1-T3). These relationships were partially mediated by health-related cognitions. We conceptually replicated predictions of health behavior theories within a real health threat, further suggesting how different coping resources are associated with qualitatively distinct outcomes. Both patterns were consistent across countries and time.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas