Can Self-Protective Behaviors Increase Unrealistic Optimism? Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Vieites, Yan; Ramos, Guilherme; Andrade, Eduardo B.; Pereira, Carlos; Medeiros, Amanda

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3852013

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The greater comparative optimism for infection in older participants was also consistent with earlier findings (e.g., Dolinski et al, 2020 ), as was the absence of a meaningful gender difference (e.g. Asimakopoulou et al, 2020 ; Kuper-Smith et al, 2020; Vieites et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…We are not the first to separately measure comparative optimism for the severity of illness should one get infected, but earlier studies that also did so used fewer and arguably more ambiguous items than we did; for example, by asking participants how likely they were to experience ‘serious’ symptoms and leaving it up to them which symptoms counted as serious, or broadly defining ‘serious’ as any symptom that entailed hospitalization (cf. Vieites et al, 2021 ; Wise et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative Optimism, Self-Superiority, Egocentric Impact Perception and Health Information Seeking: A COVID-19 Study

Hoorens

Scambler

Deschrijver

et al. 2022

Psychologica Belgica

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We examined perceived self-other differences (self-uniqueness) in appraisals of one’s risk of an infectious disease (COVID-19), one’s adherence to behavioural precautionary measures against the disease, and the impact of these measures on one’s life. We also examined the relationship of self-uniqueness with information seeking and trust in sources of information about the disease. We administered an online survey to a community sample (N = 8696) of Dutch-speaking individuals, mainly in Belgium and The Netherlands, during the first lockdown (late April-Mid June 2020). As a group, participants reported that they were less likely to get infected or infect others or to suffer severe outcomes than average (unrealistic optimism) and that they adhered better than average to behavioural precautionary measures (illusory superiority). Except for participants below 25, who reported that they were affected more than average by these measures (egocentric impact bias), participants also generally reported that they were less affected than average (allocentric impact bias). Individual differences in self-uniqueness were associated with differences in the number of information sources being used and trust on these sources. Higher comparative optimism for infection, self-superiority, and allocentric impact perception were associated with information being sought from fewer sources; higher self-superiority and egocentric impact perception were associated with lower trust. We discuss implications for health communication.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Optimism, Self-Superiority, Egocentric Impact Perception and Health Information Seeking: A COVID-19 Study

Hoorens

Scambler

Deschrijver

et al. 2022

Psychologica Belgica

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A worldwide assessment of changes in adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviours and hypothesized pandemic fatigue

et al. 2021

Self Cite

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As the COVID-19 pandemic lingers, the possibility of 'pandemic fatigue' has raised worldwide concerns. Here, we examine whether there was a gradual reduction in adherence to protective behaviours against COVID-19 from March through December 2020, as hypothesized in expectations of fatigue. We considered self-report behaviours from representative samples of the populations of 14 countries (N = 238,797), as well as mobility and policy data for 124 countries. Our results show that changes in adherence were empirically meaningful and geographically widespread. While a low-cost and habituating behaviour (mask wearing) exhibited a linear rise in adherence, high-cost and sensitizing behaviours (physical distancing) declined, but this decline decelerated over time, with small rebounds seen in later months. Reductions in adherence to physical distancing showed little difference across societal groups, but were less intense in countries with high interpersonal trust. Alternative underlying mechanisms and policy implications are discussed.

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The prevention puzzle

Bleichrodt

2022

Geneva Risk Insur Rev

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Promoting prevention is an important goal of public policy. Fifty years ago, Ehrlich and Becker (J Polit Econ 80:623–648, 1972) proposed a simple model of prevention (or self-protection as they called it). Surprisingly enough, subsequent research, mainly within the expected utility paradigm, showed that it is hard to derive clear predictions within this simple model that can help to guide policy. This is what I refer to as the prevention puzzle : why is it so hard for economic theory to guide prevention decisions? In this article I try to shed light on this question. I review the existing literature and add some tentative new results under nonexpected utility. While the impact of risk aversion on prevention is complex, three factors seem to contribute unambiguously to underprevention: prudence, likelihood insensitivity, and loss aversion. I conclude by giving some ideas how empirical research may contribute to the understanding of prevention decisions and help to solve the prevention puzzle.

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Can Self-Protective Behaviors Increase Unrealistic Optimism? Evidence from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Comparative Optimism, Self-Superiority, Egocentric Impact Perception and Health Information Seeking: A COVID-19 Study

Comparative Optimism, Self-Superiority, Egocentric Impact Perception and Health Information Seeking: A COVID-19 Study

A worldwide assessment of changes in adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviours and hypothesized pandemic fatigue

The prevention puzzle

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