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

Abakoumkin, Georgios; Tseliou, Eleftheria; McCabe, Kira O.; Lemay, Edward P.; Stroebe, Wolfgang; Agostini, Maximilian; Bélanger, Jocelyn J.; Gützkow, Ben; Kreienkamp, Jannis; Kutlaca, Maja; VanDellen, Michelle R.; Abdul Khaiyom, Jamilah Hanum; Ahmedi, Vjollca; Akkas, Handan; Almenara, Carlos A.; Atta, Mohsin; Bagci, Sabahat Cigdem; Basel, Sima; Berisha Kida, Edona; Bernardo, Allan B. I.; Buttrick, Nicholas R.; Chobthamkit, Phatthanakit; Choi, Hoon‐Seok; Cristea, Mioara; Csaba, Sára; Damnjanovic, Kaja; Danyliuk, Ivan; Di Santo, Daniela; Douglas, Karen M.; Enea, Violeta; Faller, Daiane Gracieli; Fitzsimons, Gavan; Gheorghiu, Alexandra; Gómez, Ángel; Grzymala‐Moszczynska, Joanna; Hamaidia, Ali; Han, Qing; Helmy, Mai; Hudiyana, Joevarian; Jeronimus, Bertus F.; Jiang, Ding‐Yu; Jovanović, Veljko; Kamenov, Željka; Kende, Anna; Keng, Shian‐Ling; Kieu, Tra Thi Thanh; Koc, Yasin; Kovyazina, Kamila; Kozytska, Inna; Krause, Joshua; Kruglanski, Arie W.; Kurapov, Anton; Lantos, Nóra Anna; Lesmana, C...

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.

Citation

Abakoumkin, G., Tseliou, E., McCabe, K. O., Lemay, E. P., Stroebe, W., Agostini, M., …Leander, N. P. (2024). Conceptual replication and extension of health behavior theories' predictions in the context of COVID‐19: Evidence across countries and over time. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 18(2), Article e12909. https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12909

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 2, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 14, 2023
• Publication Date: 2024-02
• Deposit Date: Mar 20, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 20, 2024
• Journal: Social and Personality Psychology Compass
• Electronic ISSN: 1751-9004
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: e12909
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/spc3.12909
• Keywords: Social Psychology
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2333608