The role of values in coping with health and economic threats of COVID-19

Edward P. Jr LEMAY; Arie W. KRUGLANSKI; Erica MOLINARIO; Maximilian AGOSTINI; Jocelyn J. BELANGER; Ben GUTZKOW; Jannis KREIENKAMP; Anne Margit REITSEMA; Michelle R. VAN DELLEN; PsyCorona Study; Wai Lan Victoria YEUNG; N. Pontus LEANDER

doi:10.1080/00224545.2021.1979454

The role of values in coping with health and economic threats of COVID-19

Edward P. Jr LEMAY^*, Arie W. KRUGLANSKI, Erica MOLINARIO, Maximilian AGOSTINI, Jocelyn J. BELANGER, Ben GUTZKOW, Jannis KREIENKAMP, Anne Margit REITSEMA, Michelle R. VAN DELLEN, PsyCorona Study, Wai Lan Victoria YEUNG, N. Pontus LEANDER

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Applied Psychology

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

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The current research examined the role of values in guiding people’s responses to COVID-19. Results from an international study involving 115 countries (N = 61,490) suggest that health and economic threats of COVID-19 evoke different values, with implications for controlling and coping with the pandemic. Specifically, health threats predicted prioritization of communal values related to caring for others and belonging, whereas economic threats predicted prioritization of agentic values focused on competition and achievement. Concurrently and over time, prioritizing communal values over agentic values was associated with enactment of prevention behaviors that reduce virus transmission, motivations to help others suffering from the pandemic, and positive attitudes toward outgroup members. These results, which were generally consistent across individual and national levels of analysis, suggest that COVID-19 threats may indirectly shape important responses to the pandemic through their influence on people’s prioritization of communion and agency. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	755-772
Journal	Journal of Social Psychology
Volume	163
Early online date	24 Dec 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2021.1979454
Publication status	Published - 2023

Bibliographical note

[Prof. Victoria Wai-lan Yeung is a member PsyCorona Collaboration.]

This research received support from the New York University Abu Dhabi (VCDSF/75-71015), the University of Groningen (Sustainable Society & Ubbo Emmius Fund), the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (COV20/00086), and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), “A way to make Europe.” This study complies with ethical regulations for research on human subjects, as approved by the Ethics Committee of Psychology at the University of Groningen (protocol PSY-1920-S-0390) and the Institutional Review Board at New York University Abu Dhabi (protocol HRPP-2020-42).

Keywords

Values
disease
COVID-19
prosocial behavior
prejudice

UN SDGs

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

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10.1080/00224545.2021.1979454

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LEMAY, E. P. J., KRUGLANSKI, A. W., MOLINARIO, E., AGOSTINI, M., BELANGER, J. J., GUTZKOW, B., KREIENKAMP, J., REITSEMA, A. M., VAN DELLEN, M. R., PsyCorona Study, YEUNG, W. L. V., & LEANDER, N. P. (2023). The role of values in coping with health and economic threats of COVID-19. Journal of Social Psychology, 163, 755-772. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2021.1979454

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abstract = "The current research examined the role of values in guiding people{\textquoteright}s responses to COVID-19. Results from an international study involving 115 countries (N = 61,490) suggest that health and economic threats of COVID-19 evoke different values, with implications for controlling and coping with the pandemic. Specifically, health threats predicted prioritization of communal values related to caring for others and belonging, whereas economic threats predicted prioritization of agentic values focused on competition and achievement. Concurrently and over time, prioritizing communal values over agentic values was associated with enactment of prevention behaviors that reduce virus transmission, motivations to help others suffering from the pandemic, and positive attitudes toward outgroup members. These results, which were generally consistent across individual and national levels of analysis, suggest that COVID-19 threats may indirectly shape important responses to the pandemic through their influence on people{\textquoteright}s prioritization of communion and agency. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.",

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note = "[Prof. Victoria Wai-lan Yeung is a member PsyCorona Collaboration.] This research received support from the New York University Abu Dhabi (VCDSF/75-71015), the University of Groningen (Sustainable Society & Ubbo Emmius Fund), the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (COV20/00086), and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), “A way to make Europe.” This study complies with ethical regulations for research on human subjects, as approved by the Ethics Committee of Psychology at the University of Groningen (protocol PSY-1920-S-0390) and the Institutional Review Board at New York University Abu Dhabi (protocol HRPP-2020-42).",

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AU - AGOSTINI, Maximilian

AU - BELANGER, Jocelyn J.

AU - GUTZKOW, Ben

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AU - VAN DELLEN, Michelle R.

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AU - YEUNG, Wai Lan Victoria

AU - LEANDER, N. Pontus

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AB - The current research examined the role of values in guiding people’s responses to COVID-19. Results from an international study involving 115 countries (N = 61,490) suggest that health and economic threats of COVID-19 evoke different values, with implications for controlling and coping with the pandemic. Specifically, health threats predicted prioritization of communal values related to caring for others and belonging, whereas economic threats predicted prioritization of agentic values focused on competition and achievement. Concurrently and over time, prioritizing communal values over agentic values was associated with enactment of prevention behaviors that reduce virus transmission, motivations to help others suffering from the pandemic, and positive attitudes toward outgroup members. These results, which were generally consistent across individual and national levels of analysis, suggest that COVID-19 threats may indirectly shape important responses to the pandemic through their influence on people’s prioritization of communion and agency. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

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The role of values in coping with health and economic threats of COVID-19

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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