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

Stroebe W.;vanDellen M. R.;Abakoumkin G.;Lemay E. P.;Schiavone W. M.;Agostini M.;Belanger J. J.;Gutzkow 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.;Damnjanovic K.;Danyliuk I.;Dash A.;Di Santo D.;Douglas K. M.;Enea V.;Faller D. G.;Fitzsimons G.;Gheorghiu A.;Gomez A.;Hamaidia A.;Han Q.;Helmy M.;Hudiyana J.;Jeronimus B. F.;Jiang D. -Y.;Jovanovic V.;Kamenov Z.;Kende A.;Keng S. -L.;Kieu T. T. T.;Koc Y.;Kovyazina K.;Kozytska I.;Krause J.;Kruglanksi A. W.;Kurapov A.;Kutlaca M.;Lantos N. A.;Jaya Lemsmana C. B.;Louis W. R.;Lueders A.;Malik N. I.;Martinez A.;McCabe K. O.;Mehulic J.;Milla M. N.;Mohammed I.;Molinario E.;Moyano M.;Mula S.;Muluk H.;Myroniuk S.;Najafi R.;Nisa C. F.;Nyul B.;O'Keefe P. A.;Olivas Osuna J. J.;Osin E. N.;Park J.;Pica G.;Pierro A.;Rees J.;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.;Tseliou E.;Utsugi A.;van Breen J. A.;van Lissa C. J.;van Veen K.;Vazquez A.;Wollast R.;Yeung V. W. -L.;Zand S.;Zezelj I. L.;Zheng B.;Zick A.;Zuniga C.;Pontus Leander N.;Muhammad H.

2021-01-01

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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.