Different Correlates of COVID-19-Related Adherent and Dysfunctional Safety Behavior

Abstract

Introduction: Safety behaviors are key elements in reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but have also assumed excessive proportions in form of panic buying groceries. This raises the question whether these behaviors are independent or related to each other. Adherent safety behavior including increased hygiene and physical distancing appears inherently adherent and prosocial, while dysfunctional safety behavior such as panic buying most probably emerges from other motives and contextual variables.Methods: Data from 15,308 participants collected from March 10 to May 4, 2020, during the COVID-19 acute period in Germany, was analyzed to assess whether adherent and dysfunctional safety behavior are predicted by the same or divergent variables. Two multiple regression models are presented including various sociodemographic, trait, attitudinal, and COVID-19-specific variables as predictors.Results: Some variables similarly predict both, adherent and dysfunctional safety behavior. Yet, adherent safety behavior is stronger predicted by COVID-19-related fear than generalized anxiety, while a trend toward a reverse pattern emerged for dysfunctional safety behavior. Adherent safety behavior was also related to higher trust in governmental actions to face COVID-19, subjective level of information, as well as use of public media and TV to remain informed on COVID-19. Higher age was related to dysfunctional, but not adherent safety behavior. Respondents living in rural communities report more adherent safety behavior than urban dwellers.Discussion: Divergent psychological variables underlie adherent and dysfunctional safety behavior. This hints toward a theoretical separation with practical relevance in behavioral engineering and public health campaigning.

Understanding Panic Buying Through an Integrated Psychodynamic Lens

“…Previous studies have highlighted key themes which are correlated with panic buying: uncertainty, fear and anxiety, a lack of trust, the perception of the crisis, social behaviors and conformity, a means of coping and a means of gaining control. Throughout times of crisis there is a heightened level of uncertainty that is experienced (3,4,7,8,10,12). This includes uncertainty of when there would be an end to the crisis (2,12) and uncertainty on whether or not there would be enough supplies to survive the duration of the crisis (7,8,12).…”

“…This includes uncertainty of when there would be an end to the crisis (2,12) and uncertainty on whether or not there would be enough supplies to survive the duration of the crisis (7,8,12). Additional negative emotions that are correlated with panic buying include fear and anxiety, which are powerful drives in consumer behavior (3,4,(8)(9)(10). This level of fear and anxiety are often associated with witnessing universal fear (12), the unknown (3,11), and the future (8).…”

“…This level of fear and anxiety are often associated with witnessing universal fear (12), the unknown (3,11), and the future (8). Thirdly, negative emotions associated with this behavior include mistrust in the government during times of crisis, which may be impacted by previous governmental actions that were taken through times of crisis (2,3,10).…”

“…In early 2020, we saw an increase in panic buying as a response to a real and/or perceived lack of resources due to COVID-19 (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). During the early days of COVID-19 clients presented with fear, panic, anxiety, and uncertainty (8).…”

“…These negative emotions were, in part, a response to a real shortage of basic supplies. Within the availability of media coverage, there was a global witnessing of shortages of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and groceries (4,10). However, the panic response led to behaviors that, for some individuals, resulted in an increase in atypical buying patterns (1).…”