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

Wolfgang  STROEBE; Michelle  VANDELLEN; Georgios  ABAKOUMKIN; Edward  Jr. LEMAY; William  SCHIAVONE; Maximilian AGOSTINI; Jocelyn J. BÉLANGER; Ben GÜTZKOW; Jannis KREIENKAMP; Anne Margit REITSEMA; Jamilah Hanum ABDUL KHAIYOM; Vjollca AHMEDI; Handan AKKAS; Carlos A. ALMENARA; Anita  KELLER; Mohsin ATTA; Sabahat Cigdem BAGCI; Sima BASEL; Edona Berisha KIDA; Allan B. I. BERNARDO; Nicholas  R. BUTTRICK; Phatthanakit CHOBTHAMKIT; Hoon-Seok CHOI; Mioara CRISTEA; Sára CSABA; Kaja DAMNJANOVIC; Ivan DANYLIUK; Arobindu DASH; Daniela DI SANTO; Karen M. DOUGLAS; Violeta ENEA; Daiane  G. FALLER; Gavan FITZSIMONS; Alexandra GHEORGHIU; Ángel GÓMEZ; Qing HAN; Mai HELMY; Joevarian HUDIYANA; Bertus F JERONIMUS; Ding-Yu  JIANG; Veljko JOVANOVIC; Zeljka KAMENOV; Anna KENDE; Shian-Ling KENG; Tra Thi Thanh KIEU; Yasin KOC; Kamila KOVYAZINA; Inna KOZYTSKA; Joshua KRAUSE; Arie W. KRUGLANSKI; Anton KURAPOV; Maja KUTLACA; Nóra Anna LANTOS; Cokorda Bagus Java LESMANA; Winnifred R. LOUIS; Adrian LUEDERS; Najma Iqbal MALIK; Anton MARTINEZ; Kira O. McCABE; Jasmina MEHULIC; Mirra Noor MILLA; Idris MOHAMMED; Erica MOLINARIO; Manuel MOYANO; Hayat MUHAMMAD; Silvana MULA; Hamdi MULUK; Solomiia MYRONIUK; Reza NAJAFI; Claudia F. NISA; Boglárka NYÚL; Paul Anna  O'KEEFE; Jose Javier Olivas OSUNA; Evgeny N. OSIN; Joonha PARK; Gennaro PICA; Antonio PIERRO; Jonas REES; Elena RESTA; Marika RULLO; Michelle K. RYAN; Adil SAMEKIN; Pekka SANTTILA; Edyta  M.   SASIN; Birga  M.  SCHUMPE; Heyla A. SELIM; Michael Vicente STANTON; Samiah SULTANA; Robbie M. SUTTON; Eleftheria TSELIOU; Akira UTSUGI; Jolien Anne VAN BREEN; Caspar J. VAN LISSA; Kees VAN VEEN; Alexandra VAZQUEZ; Robin WOLLAST; Wai Lan Victoria YEUNG; Somayeh ZAND; Iris Lav ŽEŽELJ; Bang ZHENG; Andreas ZICK; Claudia ZÚÑIGA; N. Pontus LEANDER

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0256740

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

Wolfgang STROEBE^*, Michelle VANDELLEN, Georgios ABAKOUMKIN, Edward Jr. LEMAY, William SCHIAVONE, Maximilian AGOSTINI, Jocelyn J. BÉLANGER, Ben GÜTZKOW, Jannis KREIENKAMP, Anne Margit REITSEMA, Jamilah Hanum ABDUL KHAIYOM, Vjollca AHMEDI, Handan AKKAS, Carlos A. ALMENARA, Anita KELLER, Mohsin ATTA, Sabahat Cigdem BAGCI, Sima BASEL, Edona Berisha KIDA, Allan B. I. BERNARDONicholas R. BUTTRICK, Phatthanakit CHOBTHAMKIT, Hoon-Seok CHOI, Mioara CRISTEA, Sára CSABA, Kaja DAMNJANOVIC, Ivan DANYLIUK, Arobindu DASH, Daniela DI SANTO, Karen M. DOUGLAS, Violeta ENEA, Daiane G. FALLER, Gavan FITZSIMONS, Alexandra GHEORGHIU, Ángel GÓMEZ, Qing HAN, Mai HELMY, Joevarian HUDIYANA, Bertus F JERONIMUS, Ding-Yu JIANG, Veljko JOVANOVIC, Zeljka KAMENOV, Anna KENDE, Shian-Ling KENG, Tra Thi Thanh KIEU, Yasin KOC, Kamila KOVYAZINA, Inna KOZYTSKA, Joshua KRAUSE, Arie W. KRUGLANSKI, Anton KURAPOV, Maja KUTLACA, Nóra Anna LANTOS, Cokorda Bagus Java LESMANA, Winnifred R. LOUIS, Adrian LUEDERS, Najma Iqbal MALIK, Anton MARTINEZ, Kira O. McCABE, Jasmina MEHULIC, Mirra Noor MILLA, Idris MOHAMMED, Erica MOLINARIO, Manuel MOYANO, Hayat MUHAMMAD, Silvana MULA, Hamdi MULUK, Solomiia MYRONIUK, Reza NAJAFI, Claudia F. NISA, Boglárka NYÚL, Paul Anna O'KEEFE, Jose Javier Olivas OSUNA, Evgeny N. OSIN, Joonha PARK, Gennaro PICA, Antonio PIERRO, Jonas REES, Elena RESTA, Marika RULLO, Michelle K. RYAN, Adil SAMEKIN, Pekka SANTTILA, Edyta M. SASIN, Birga M. SCHUMPE, Heyla A. SELIM, Michael Vicente STANTON, Samiah SULTANA, Robbie M. SUTTON, Eleftheria TSELIOU, Akira UTSUGI, Jolien Anne VAN BREEN, Caspar J. VAN LISSA, Kees VAN VEEN, Alexandra VAZQUEZ, Robin WOLLAST, Wai Lan Victoria YEUNG, Somayeh ZAND, Iris Lav ŽEŽELJ, Bang ZHENG, Andreas ZICK, Claudia ZÚÑIGA, N. Pontus LEANDER^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Applied Psychology

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

72 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Article number	0256740
Journal	PLoS ONE
Volume	16
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256740
Publication status	Published - 20 Oct 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research received support from the New York University Abu Dhabi (VCDSF/75-71015) to J.N., the University of Groningen (Sustainable Society & Ubbo Emmius Fund) to N.P.L., and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (COV20/00086) co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF ?A way to make Europe? to M.M. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Public Library of Science. All rights reserved.

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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STROEBE, W., VANDELLEN, M., ABAKOUMKIN, G., LEMAY, E. J., SCHIAVONE, W., AGOSTINI, M., BÉLANGER, J. J., GÜTZKOW, B., KREIENKAMP, J., REITSEMA, A. M., ABDUL KHAIYOM, J. H., AHMEDI, V., AKKAS, H., ALMENARA, C. A., KELLER, A., ATTA, M., BAGCI, S. C., BASEL, S., KIDA, E. B., ... LEANDER, N. P. (2021). Politicization of COVID-19 health-protective behaviors in the United States: Longitudinal and cross-national evidence. PLoS ONE, 16(10), Article 0256740. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256740

@article{fca8aa21b9db49259fe575f718726df6,

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

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.",

author = "Wolfgang STROEBE and Michelle VANDELLEN and Georgios ABAKOUMKIN and LEMAY, {Edward Jr.} and William SCHIAVONE and Maximilian AGOSTINI and B{\'E}LANGER, {Jocelyn J.} and Ben G{\"U}TZKOW and Jannis KREIENKAMP and REITSEMA, {Anne Margit} and {ABDUL KHAIYOM}, {Jamilah Hanum} and Vjollca AHMEDI and Handan AKKAS and ALMENARA, {Carlos A.} and Anita KELLER and Mohsin ATTA and BAGCI, {Sabahat Cigdem} and Sima BASEL and KIDA, {Edona Berisha} and BERNARDO, {Allan B. I.} and BUTTRICK, {Nicholas R.} and Phatthanakit CHOBTHAMKIT and Hoon-Seok CHOI and Mioara CRISTEA and S{\'a}ra CSABA and Kaja DAMNJANOVIC and Ivan DANYLIUK and Arobindu DASH and {DI SANTO}, Daniela and DOUGLAS, {Karen M.} and Violeta ENEA and FALLER, {Daiane G.} and Gavan FITZSIMONS and Alexandra GHEORGHIU and {\'A}ngel G{\'O}MEZ and Qing HAN and Mai HELMY and Joevarian HUDIYANA and JERONIMUS, {Bertus F} and Ding-Yu JIANG and Veljko JOVANOVIC and Zeljka KAMENOV and Anna KENDE and Shian-Ling KENG and KIEU, {Tra Thi Thanh} and Yasin KOC and Kamila KOVYAZINA and Inna KOZYTSKA and Joshua KRAUSE and KRUGLANSKI, {Arie W.} and Anton KURAPOV and Maja KUTLACA and LANTOS, {N{\'o}ra Anna} and LESMANA, {Cokorda Bagus Java} and LOUIS, {Winnifred R.} and Adrian LUEDERS and MALIK, {Najma Iqbal} and Anton MARTINEZ and McCABE, {Kira O.} and Jasmina MEHULIC and MILLA, {Mirra Noor} and Idris MOHAMMED and Erica MOLINARIO and Manuel MOYANO and Hayat MUHAMMAD and Silvana MULA and Hamdi MULUK and Solomiia MYRONIUK and Reza NAJAFI and NISA, {Claudia F.} and Bogl{\'a}rka NY{\'U}L and O'KEEFE, {Paul Anna} and OSUNA, {Jose Javier Olivas} and OSIN, {Evgeny N.} and Joonha PARK and Gennaro PICA and Antonio PIERRO and Jonas REES and Elena RESTA and Marika RULLO and RYAN, {Michelle K.} and Adil SAMEKIN and Pekka SANTTILA and SASIN, {Edyta M.} and SCHUMPE, {Birga M.} and SELIM, {Heyla A.} and STANTON, {Michael Vicente} and Samiah SULTANA and SUTTON, {Robbie M.} and Eleftheria TSELIOU and Akira UTSUGI and {VAN BREEN}, {Jolien Anne} and {VAN LISSA}, {Caspar J.} and {VAN VEEN}, Kees and Alexandra VAZQUEZ and Robin WOLLAST and YEUNG, {Wai Lan Victoria} and Somayeh ZAND and {\v Z}E{\v Z}ELJ, {Iris Lav} and Bang ZHENG and Andreas ZICK and Claudia Z{\'U}{\~N}IGA and LEANDER, {N. Pontus}",

note = "Funding Information: This research received support from the New York University Abu Dhabi (VCDSF/75-71015) to J.N., the University of Groningen (Sustainable Society & Ubbo Emmius Fund) to N.P.L., and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (COV20/00086) co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF ?A way to make Europe? to M.M. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Public Library of Science. All rights reserved.",

year = "2021",

month = oct,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1371/journal.pone.0256740",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

journal = "PLoS ONE",

issn = "1932-6203",

publisher = "Public Library of Science",

number = "10",

}

STROEBE, W, VANDELLEN, M, ABAKOUMKIN, G, LEMAY, EJ, SCHIAVONE, W, AGOSTINI, M, BÉLANGER, JJ, GÜTZKOW, B, KREIENKAMP, J, REITSEMA, AM, ABDUL KHAIYOM, JH, AHMEDI, V, AKKAS, H, ALMENARA, CA, KELLER, A, ATTA, M, BAGCI, SC, BASEL, S, KIDA, EB, BERNARDO, ABI, BUTTRICK, NR, CHOBTHAMKIT, P, CHOI, H-S, CRISTEA, M, CSABA, S, DAMNJANOVIC, K, DANYLIUK, I, DASH, A, DI SANTO, D, DOUGLAS, KM, ENEA, V, FALLER, DG, FITZSIMONS, G, GHEORGHIU, A, GÓMEZ, Á, HAN, Q, HELMY, M, HUDIYANA, J, JERONIMUS, BF, JIANG, D-Y, JOVANOVIC, V, KAMENOV, Z, KENDE, A, KENG, S-L, KIEU, TTT, KOC, Y, KOVYAZINA, K, KOZYTSKA, I, KRAUSE, J, KRUGLANSKI, AW, KURAPOV, A, KUTLACA, M, LANTOS, NA, LESMANA, CBJ, LOUIS, WR, LUEDERS, A, MALIK, NI, MARTINEZ, A, McCABE, KO, MEHULIC, J, MILLA, MN, MOHAMMED, I, MOLINARIO, E, MOYANO, M, MUHAMMAD, H, MULA, S, MULUK, H, MYRONIUK, S, NAJAFI, R, NISA, CF, NYÚL, B, O'KEEFE, PA, OSUNA, JJO, OSIN, EN, PARK, J, PICA, G, PIERRO, A, REES, J, RESTA, E, RULLO, M, RYAN, MK, SAMEKIN, A, SANTTILA, P, SASIN, EM, SCHUMPE, BM, SELIM, HA, STANTON, MV, SULTANA, S, SUTTON, RM, TSELIOU, E, UTSUGI, A, VAN BREEN, JA, VAN LISSA, CJ, VAN VEEN, K, VAZQUEZ, A, WOLLAST, R, YEUNG, WLV, ZAND, S, ŽEŽELJ, IL, ZHENG, B, ZICK, A, ZÚÑIGA, C & LEANDER, NP 2021, 'Politicization of COVID-19 health-protective behaviors in the United States: Longitudinal and cross-national evidence', PLoS ONE, vol. 16, no. 10, 0256740. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256740

TY - JOUR

T1 - Politicization of COVID-19 health-protective behaviors in the United States: Longitudinal and cross-national evidence

AU - STROEBE, Wolfgang

AU - VANDELLEN, Michelle

AU - ABAKOUMKIN, Georgios

AU - LEMAY, Edward Jr.

AU - SCHIAVONE, William

AU - AGOSTINI, Maximilian

AU - BÉLANGER, Jocelyn J.

AU - GÜTZKOW, Ben

AU - KREIENKAMP, Jannis

AU - REITSEMA, Anne Margit

AU - ABDUL KHAIYOM, Jamilah Hanum

AU - AHMEDI, Vjollca

AU - AKKAS, Handan

AU - ALMENARA, Carlos A.

AU - KELLER, Anita

AU - ATTA, Mohsin

AU - BAGCI, Sabahat Cigdem

AU - BASEL, Sima

AU - KIDA, Edona Berisha

AU - BERNARDO, Allan B. I.

AU - BUTTRICK, Nicholas R.

AU - CHOBTHAMKIT, Phatthanakit

AU - CHOI, Hoon-Seok

AU - CRISTEA, Mioara

AU - CSABA, Sára

AU - DAMNJANOVIC, Kaja

AU - DANYLIUK, Ivan

AU - DASH, Arobindu

AU - DI SANTO, Daniela

AU - DOUGLAS, Karen M.

AU - ENEA, Violeta

AU - FALLER, Daiane G.

AU - FITZSIMONS, Gavan

AU - GHEORGHIU, Alexandra

AU - GÓMEZ, Ángel

AU - HAN, Qing

AU - HELMY, Mai

AU - HUDIYANA, Joevarian

AU - JERONIMUS, Bertus F

AU - JIANG, Ding-Yu

AU - JOVANOVIC, Veljko

AU - KAMENOV, Zeljka

AU - KENDE, Anna

AU - KENG, Shian-Ling

AU - KIEU, Tra Thi Thanh

AU - KOC, Yasin

AU - KOVYAZINA, Kamila

AU - KOZYTSKA, Inna

AU - KRAUSE, Joshua

AU - KRUGLANSKI, Arie W.

AU - KURAPOV, Anton

AU - KUTLACA, Maja

AU - LANTOS, Nóra Anna

AU - LESMANA, Cokorda Bagus Java

AU - LOUIS, Winnifred R.

AU - LUEDERS, Adrian

AU - MALIK, Najma Iqbal

AU - MARTINEZ, Anton

AU - McCABE, Kira O.

AU - MEHULIC, Jasmina

AU - MILLA, Mirra Noor

AU - MOHAMMED, Idris

AU - MOLINARIO, Erica

AU - MOYANO, Manuel

AU - MUHAMMAD, Hayat

AU - MULA, Silvana

AU - MULUK, Hamdi

AU - MYRONIUK, Solomiia

AU - NAJAFI, Reza

AU - NISA, Claudia F.

AU - NYÚL, Boglárka

AU - O'KEEFE, Paul Anna

AU - OSUNA, Jose Javier Olivas

AU - OSIN, Evgeny N.

AU - PARK, Joonha

AU - PICA, Gennaro

AU - PIERRO, Antonio

AU - REES, Jonas

AU - RESTA, Elena

AU - RULLO, Marika

AU - RYAN, Michelle K.

AU - SAMEKIN, Adil

AU - SANTTILA, Pekka

AU - SASIN, Edyta M.

AU - SCHUMPE, Birga M.

AU - SELIM, Heyla A.

AU - STANTON, Michael Vicente

AU - SULTANA, Samiah

AU - SUTTON, Robbie M.

AU - TSELIOU, Eleftheria

AU - UTSUGI, Akira

AU - VAN BREEN, Jolien Anne

AU - VAN LISSA, Caspar J.

AU - VAN VEEN, Kees

AU - VAZQUEZ, Alexandra

AU - WOLLAST, Robin

AU - YEUNG, Wai Lan Victoria

AU - ZAND, Somayeh

AU - ŽEŽELJ, Iris Lav

AU - ZHENG, Bang

AU - ZICK, Andreas

AU - ZÚÑIGA, Claudia

AU - LEANDER, N. Pontus

N1 - Funding Information: This research received support from the New York University Abu Dhabi (VCDSF/75-71015) to J.N., the University of Groningen (Sustainable Society & Ubbo Emmius Fund) to N.P.L., and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (COV20/00086) co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF ?A way to make Europe? to M.M. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Public Library of Science. All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/10/20

Y1 - 2021/10/20

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85117694703&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0256740

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0256740

M3 - Journal Article (refereed)

C2 - 34669724

AN - SCOPUS:85117694703

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 16

JO - PLoS ONE

JF - PLoS ONE

IS - 10

M1 - 0256740

ER -

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

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Bibliographical note

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