Handwashing adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study based on protection motivation theory

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cris.lastimport.scopus2025-08-30T03:11:19Z
dc.abstract.enRationale: The associations between the number of COVID-19 cases/deaths and subsequent uptake of protective behaviors may reflect cognitive and behavioral responses to threat-relevant information. Objective: Applying protection motivation theory (PMT), this study explored whether the number of total COVID-19 cases/deaths and general anxiety were associated with cross-situational handwashing adherence and whether these associations were mediated by PMT-specific self-regulatory cognitions (threat appraisal: perceived vulnerability, perceived illness severity; coping appraisal: self-efficacy, response efficacy, response costs). Method: The study (#NCT04367337) was conducted in March–September 2020 among 1256 adults residing in 14 countries. Self-reports on baseline general anxiety levels, handwashing adherence across 12 situations, and PMT-related constructs were collected using an online survey at two points in time, four weeks apart. Values of COVID-19 cases and deaths were retrieved twice for each country (one week prior to the individual data collection). Results: Across countries and time, levels of adherence to handwashing guidelines were high. Path analysis indicated that smaller numbers of COVID-19 cases/deaths (Time 0; T0) were related to stronger self-efficacy (T1), which in turn was associated with higher handwashing adherence (T3). Lower general anxiety (T1) was related to better adherence (T3), with this effect mediated by higher response efficacy (T1, T3) and lower response cost (T3). However, higher general anxiety (T1) was related to better adherence via higher illness severity (T1, T3). General anxiety was unrelated to COVID-19 indicators. Conclusions: We found a complex pattern of associations between the numbers of COVID-19 cases/deaths, general anxiety, PMT variables, and handwashing adherence at the early stages of the pandemic. Higher general anxiety may enable threat appraisal (perceived illness severity), but it may hinder coping appraisal (response efficacy and response costs). The indicators of the trajectory of the pandemic (i.e., the smaller number of COVID-19 cases) may be indirectly associated with higher handwashing adherence via stronger self-efficacy.
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii we Wrocławiu
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.contributor.authorSzczuka, Zofia
dc.contributor.authorSiwa, Maria
dc.contributor.authorAbraham, Charles
dc.contributor.authorBaban, Adriana
dc.contributor.authorBrooks, Sydney
dc.contributor.authorCipolletta, Sabrina
dc.contributor.authorDanso, Ebrima
dc.contributor.authorDombrowski, Stephan U.
dc.contributor.authorGan, Yiqun
dc.contributor.authorGaspar, Tania
dc.contributor.authorGaspar de Matos, Margarida
dc.contributor.authorGriva, Konstadina
dc.contributor.authorJongenelis, Michelle
dc.contributor.authorKeller, Jan
dc.contributor.authorKnoll, Nina
dc.contributor.authorMa, Jinjin
dc.contributor.authorAbdul Awal Miah, Mohammad
dc.contributor.authorMorgan, Karen
dc.contributor.authorPeraud, William
dc.contributor.authorQuintard, Bruno
dc.contributor.authorShah, Vishna
dc.contributor.authorSchenkel, Konstantin
dc.contributor.authorScholz, Urte
dc.contributor.authorSchwarzer, Ralf
dc.contributor.authorTaut, Diana
dc.contributor.authorTomaino, Silvia C.M.
dc.contributor.authorVilchinsky, Noa
dc.contributor.authorWolf, Hodaya
dc.contributor.authorŁuszczyńska, Aleksandra
dc.date.access2022-11-21
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-17T13:38:59Z
dc.date.available2024-01-17T13:38:59Z
dc.date.created2022-11-19
dc.date.issued2022-11-21
dc.description.accesstimeafter_publication
dc.description.grantnumber2020/01/0/HS6/00059
dc.description.granttitleZmiana zachowań zdrowotnych w czasie pandemii COVID-19: nawyki mycia rąk
dc.description.physical1-11
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume317
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115569
dc.identifier.issn0277-9536
dc.identifier.issn1873-5347
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/325
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953622008759?via%3Dihub
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enHandwashing
dc.subject.enCOVID-19
dc.subject.enAnxiety
dc.subject.enProtection motivation theory
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titleHandwashing adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study based on protection motivation theory
dc.title.journalSocial Science and Medicine
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle