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.;Stroebe W.;Agostini M.;Belanger J. J.;Gutzkow 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.;Gomez A.;Grzymala-Moszczynska J.;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.;Kruglanski A. W.;Kurapov A.;Lantos N. A.;Lesmana C. B. J.;Louis W. R.;Lueders A.;Malik N. I.;Martinez A.;Mehulic J.;Milla M. N.;Mohammed I.;Molinario E.;Moyano M.;Muhammad H.;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.;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.;Vazquez A.;Wollast R.;Yeung V. W. -L.;Zand S.;Zezelj I. L.;Zheng B.;Zick A.;Zuniga C.;Leander N. P.

2024-01-01

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Abstract

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.