If-then planning, self-control, and boredom as predictors of adherence to social distancing guidelines: Evidence from a two-wave longitudinal study with a behavioral intervention

Abstract

In the wake of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), social distancing is instrumental for containing the pandemic. To maximize its effectiveness, it is paramount to investigate psychological factors that predict adherence to social distancing guidelines and examine corresponding interventions. We focused on individual differences in if-then planning, self-control, and boredom, and tested an intervention based on if-then planning. We conducted a two-wave longitudinal study combining observational and experimental methods. Participants (N = 574, 35.7% female, age: M = 37.5 years, SD = 10.8) reported their adherence to social distancing guidelines and the perceived difficulty of adherence at T1, along with trait measures of if-then planning, self-control, and boredom. Afterwards, they were randomly assigned to an if-then planning intervention to increase adherence, or to a control intervention. One week later at T2, participants again reported their adherence and the perceived difficulty of adhering. Multiple regression and structural equation modeling were used to establish whether trait if-then planning, self-control, and boredom predicted adherence, and to examine the effects of the if-then planning intervention. Trait if-then planning, self-control, and boredom were associated with T1 adherence, while only if-then planning and boredom predicted T2 adherence. No overall treatment effect of the if-then planning intervention emerged; however, participants who complied with the intervention (75.6%) maintained higher levels of adherence over time than control participants. In sum, individual differences in if-then planning, self-control, and boredom predicted adherence to social distancing guidelines. If-then planning interventions are promising but require further steps to ascertain compliance.

Social cognition theories and behavior change in COVID-19: A conceptual review

“…A specific form of planning, known as implementation intentions or “if-then” plans ( Gollwitzer, 1999 ), has also been proposed as moderator the intention-behavior relationship, suggesting that individuals who plan may be more likely to follow through on their intentions. Studies have indicated that compliance with a interventions using if-then plans, leads to greater adherence to physical distancing guidelines ( Ahn et al, 2021 ; Bieleke, Martarelli, & Wolff, 2021 ).…”

Boredom Proneness Predicts Self-Assessed Decision Errors in Sports but Is Unrelated to Risk Taking in General

“…This indicates that boredom proneness might render people less effective in basing their choices on the reward structure of the task at hand [ 25 ], therefore making self-regulatory decision failures more likely in boredom-prone individuals [ 26 ]. Indeed, boredom proneness is consistently linked with poor self-control [ 9 , 18 , 27 ] and has not only been associated with risk behavior but also with more general self-regulatory failures to launch [ 26 ] and disengage [ 28 ]. Therefore, we propose that boredom proneness predicts self-regulatory decision failures in sports, some of which should pertain to increased risk taking (e.g., attempting a dangerous move in one’s sport) whereas others should not (e.g., acting too passive in a critical situation in one’s sport).…”

Boredom proneness predicts self-assessed decision errors in sports but is unrelated to risk taking in general

“…This indicates that boredom proneness might render people less effective in basing their choices on the reward structure of the task at hand 25 , therefore making self-regulatory decision failures more likely in boredom-prone individuals 26 . Indeed, boredom proneness is consistently linked with poor self-control 9,18,27 26 and disengage 28 . Therefore, we propose that boredom proneness predicts selfregulatory decision failures in sports, some of which should pertain to increased risk taking (e.g., attempting a dangerous move in one's sport) whereas others should not (e.g., acting too passive in a critical situation in one's sport).…”