Attachment, Personality and Locus of Control: Psychological Determinants of Risk Perception and Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19

Abstract

Background: The understanding of factors that shape risk perception is crucial to modulate the perceived threat and, in turn, to promote optimal engagement in preventive actions.Methods: An on-line, cross-sectional, survey was conducted in Italy between May and July 2020 to investigate risk perception for COVID-19 and the adoption of preventive measures. A total of 964 volunteers participated in the study. Possible predictors of risk perception were identified through a hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, including sociodemographic, epidemiological and, most of all, psychological factors. A path analysis was adopted to probe the possible mediating role of risk perception on the relationship between the independent variables considered and the adoption of preventive measures.Results: Focusing on the psychological predictors of risk perception, high levels of anxiety, an anxious attachment, and an external locus of control predicted higher perceived risk. Conversely, high levels of openness personality and of avoidant attachment predicted a lower perception of risk. In turn, the higher was the perceived risk the higher was the adoption of precautionary measures. Furthermore, psychological factors influenced the adoption of preventive behaviors both directly and indirectly through their effect on risk perception.Conclusions: Our findings might be taken into high consideration by stakeholders, who are responsible for promoting a truthful perception of risk and proper compliance with precautionary measures.

Late Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Peers and Psychological Distress Resulting from COVID-19. A Study on the Mediation Role of Alexithymia

“…These results are in accordance with recent studies showing higher psychopathological symptoms resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak among individuals with insecure attachment [48][49][50][51]. Late adolescence represents a critical phase of life marked by instability and feelings of anxiety and depression [78], and a risk window for the onset of psychopathological problems [79][80][81].…”

“…Conversely, insecure attachment adolescents tend to use maladaptive responses in facing a stressful life event [43,44], showing higher anxiety levels [45], and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms [46]. Recently, studies have shown that the quality of attachment may also influence individuals' experience of fear during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting psychopathological outcomes [44,[47][48][49][50][51]. Specifically, the COVID-19 outbreak can be considered as a stress inducer [52] that may active attachment behavior strategies and the related individual's emotional and behavioral responses used in previous stressful situations [51].…”

“…Specifically, the COVID-19 outbreak can be considered as a stress inducer [52] that may active attachment behavior strategies and the related individual's emotional and behavioral responses used in previous stressful situations [51]. Coherently, significant associations between insecure attachment and higher psychological distress have been reported [48,50,51]. However, very few studies have focused on the adolescent population [49], and no study has yet explored the possible specific contribution played by, respectively, late adolescents' attachment to parents and peers.…”

Emerging Adults’ Outlook on the Future in the Midst of COVID-19: The Role of Personality Profiles

“…In terms of measurement issues, the reliability statistic for the locus of control variable was notably low. Locus of control is a crucial component of operationalizing levels of personality, particularly in reference to historical or environmental contexts, and has been assessed in multiple recent COVID-19 studies (Krampe et al, 2021;Lu & Wang, 2021;Tagini et al, 2021), so was retained in analyses despite the low reliability statistic. The influence of locus of control as a defining feature of the agent level of personality, and as a predictor of future outlook in this context, should be interpreted with caution.…”

Effects of COVID-19 on Multilingual Communication

“…In the absence of a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19, all measures to contain and limit the spread of the infection depend on the behavior of the people. Meanwhile, since the beginning of the pandemic, 2 types of responses to the infection spread have been formed: one part of society perceived the new infection with anxiety and even fear and was actively engaged in preventive protection; the other part, on the contrary, ignored the danger of the disease and protested sharply against all introduced preventive measures (Bump, 2020;Burnett, 2020;Dave et al, 2020;Malone and Bourassa, 2020;Niemi et al, 2021;Tagini et al, 2021).…”