Age Differences in COVID-19 Preventive Behavior

Abstract

Abstract. Age is a critical risk factor for severe COVID-19. This is mirrored by older people showing preventive health behaviors more frequently. However, collective action across all age groups is necessary to reduce transmission. Therefore, this study assessed whether age differences are moderated by policy changes and whether policies further moderate the relationship between psychological determinants of behavior (risk perceptions and trust), age, and preventive behaviors. Risk perceptions, trust in institutions, self-reported frequency of preventive behaviors (mask-wearing, avoiding social gatherings), and demographics (e.g., age) were collected within the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO), a German serial cross-sectional survey. A total of 19,069 participants across 20 measurement points were included (online sample, quota-representative for Age × Gender and federal state in Germany; mid-April to the end of November 2020). Regression analyses showed that age differences in avoiding social gatherings and mask-wearing remained stable under different health policies but were further moderated by psychological variables. The introduction of stricter policies alone was not related to higher adoption rates of preventive behaviors, but it mitigated the effects of age and risk perceptions. Moreover, under mandatory policies, the correlation between trust in institutions and behaviors was amplified. The present research made a strong case for quality, targeted health, and risk communication. Without mandatory policies, the importance of preventive behaviors must be well understood to achieve high adherence – especially in young people who are threatened by the disease less directly.

Emotional State of Mexican University Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In the present study, more than half of the university students (60.3%) had been in contact with a person infected by COVID-19 and furthermore, 28.6% indicated having been infected by COVID-19. This may be because at the time of the study, the pandemic had been going on for a year and a half and more and more people were infected or because young people have been infected more than older people [ 33 ], so that many participants have been in contact with COVID-19-infected person.…”

Effective factors in people’s preventive behaviors during covid-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-synthesis

“…Furthermore, one study found a link between genders and mask use in terms of pain and irritation of the skin, ears, nose, and mouth, among other things [ 35 ]. Or another indicated that age differences have a significant impact on COVID-19 protective behaviors, even after mandatory policies were implemented [ 36 ]. As a result, to achieve high adherence, the importance of preventive behaviors must be well understood, especially in young people who are less directly threatened by the disease.…”

Lessons learned about willingness to adopt various protective measures during the early COVID-19 pandemic in three countries

“…Second, our sample showed a high willingness to adopt the behaviors, which might have resulted in an underestimation of the effects found. For instance, in countries where compliance and regulations are weaker, or at times when compliance wanes due to habituation effects, individual differences are likely to matter more [ 45 , 46 ]. Another limitation arises from the fact that we could not comply with one of the pre-registered exclusion criteria (i.e., whether one has been infected with COVID-19), and this might have affected our results.…”