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Lives versus Livelihoods? Perceived economic risk has a stronger association with support for COVID‑19 preventive measures than perceived health risk

Nisa, Claudia F., Bélanger, Jocelyn, Faller, Daiane G., Buttrick, Nicholas R., Mierau, Jochen O., Austin, Maura M.K., Schumpe, Birga M., Sasin, Edyta M., Agostini, Maximilian, Gützkow, Ben, and others. (2021) Lives versus Livelihoods? Perceived economic risk has a stronger association with support for COVID‑19 preventive measures than perceived health risk. Scientific Reports, 11 . Article Number 9669. E-ISSN 2045-2322. (doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88314-4) (KAR id:89488)

Abstract

This paper examines whether compliance with COVID-19 mitigation measures is motivated by

wanting to save lives or save the economy (or both), and which implications this carries to fight the pandemic. National representative samples were collected from 24 countries (N= 25,435). The main predictors were (1) perceived risk to contract coronavirus, (2) perceived risk to suffer economic losses due to coronavirus, and (3) their interaction effect. Individual and country-level variables were added as covariates in multilevel regression models. We examined compliance with various preventive health behaviors and support for strict containment policies. Results show that perceived economic risk consistently predicted mitigation behavior and policy support—and its effects were positive. Perceived

health risk had mixed effects. Only two significant interactions between health and economic risk were identified—both positive.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1038/s41598-021-88314-4
Uncontrolled keywords: COVID‑19; health care; psychology; risk factors
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Karen Douglas
Date Deposited: 28 Jul 2021 11:33 UTC
Last Modified: 14 Nov 2022 23:12 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/89488 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Chobthamkit, Phatthanakit.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Douglas, Karen.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0381-6924
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Sutton, Robbie M..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1542-1716
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