Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2025
07:01
Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
Published on: March 1, 2019
8.0K
Determinants of social distancing adherence.
Philip Gerretsen1,2, Julia Kim2, Eric E Brown1
1Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Department of Psychiatry, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Frontiers in Public Health
|January 30, 2023
Summary
Social distancing adherence varied during the COVID-19 pandemic, influenced by perceived seriousness of the virus and individual psychological factors, not regional differences. Public health messaging should emphasize consequences and support vulnerable groups.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Governments implemented social distancing to curb COVID-19 spread.
- Adherence to these measures is inconsistent and influenced by multiple factors.
- Understanding these determinants is crucial for effective public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify sociodemographic, COVID-19 related, and psychological factors influencing social distancing adherence.
- Explore regional variations in adherence between the U.S. and Canada.
Main Methods:
- A web-based, repeated cross-sectional survey of 4,942 English-speaking participants in the U.S. and Canada.
- Data collected in May and July 2020 to assess changes over time.
- Univariate analyses examined determinants of adherence, with regional comparisons.
Main Results:
- Social distancing adherence decreased slightly from May to July 2020, correlating with relaxed restrictions.
- No significant regional differences in adherence were observed between U.S. states and Canada.
- Perceived COVID-19 seriousness, lower risk propensity, germ aversion, age, and social support were key predictors of adherence.
Conclusions:
- Public health initiatives should highlight severe COVID-19 consequences to improve adherence.
- Targeted interventions for younger adults and those needing social support are recommended.
- Findings inform strategies for future pandemics and disease outbreaks.
Related Concept Videos
00:52Social Proof
27.7K
Social proof is a form of persuasion based on comparison and conformity. People compare their behavior and actions to what others are doing and will change to conform to do what their peers do.
27.7K
01:20Conformity
45.3K
Conformity is the change in a person’s behavior to go along with the group, even if that person does not agree with the group.
45.3K
02:12Relationship Formation
40.2K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
40.2K
00:57Deindividuation
26.5K
Deindividuation is a form of social influence on an individual’s behavior such that the individual engages in unusual or non-normal behavior while in a group setting. Why? Because in these group settings, the individual no longer sees themselves as an individual anymore, disinhibiting their behavior and personal restraint.
26.5K
02:10Social Scripts
9.5K
People tend to know what behavior is expected of them in specific, familiar settings. A script is a person’s knowledge about the sequence of events expected in a specific setting (Schank & Abelson, 1977). Essentially, scripts are a particular kind of schema, one containing default values for the features within an event. In the restaurant example, the script's features include the props (e.g., tables, menu, food, and money), the roles to be played (e.g., customer and waiter),...
9.5K
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
43.6K
Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
43.6K