Negative Affectivity, Authoritarianism, and Anxiety of Infection Explain Early Maladjusted Behavior During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Abstract

During the first phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, Italy experienced problems of public order and maladjusted behavior. This study assessed the role of negative affectivity, right-wing authoritarianism, and anxiety of COVID-19 infection in explaining a variety of the maladjusted behaviors (i.e., “China-phobic” discrimination, panic buying) observed with an Italian sample. Specifically, we examined the effect of Negative Affectivity and Right-Wing Authoritarianism on maladjusted behaviors, and the moderating role of anxiety of infection. Seven hundred and fifty-seven Italian participants completed an online survey between March 3rd to the 7th 2020, which was immediately before the lockdown. A moderated-mediation model was tested using a structural equation modeling approach. Results indicated that both Negative Affectivity and Right-Wing Authoritarianism were positively associated with COVID-19-related maladjusted behavior, and that Right-Wing Authoritarianism mediated the relationship between Negative Affectivity and maladjusted behavior. Furthermore, the effect of Right-Wing Authoritarianism on maladjusted behavior was greater for those with high anxiety of infection, and the indirect effect of Negative Affectivity on maladjusted behavior through Right-Wing Authoritarianism was moderated by infection anxiety. Findings highlight potential psychological paths that may inform communication strategies and public health initiatives aimed at promoting healthy behavior during an outbreak.

Politics of COVID-19 vaccine mandates: Left/right-wing authoritarianism, social dominance orientation, and libertarianism

“…Previous findings regarding how RWA shape reactions to the pandemic seem mixed. Some studies have shown that RWA is related to worry about COVID-19, preventive responses to COVID-19, and support for government restrictions and lockdown ( Bochicchio et al, 2021 ; Fischer et al, 2020 ; Manson, 2020 ). In contrast, other research shows that RWA predicts lower anxiety about COVID-19 and lower knowledge of the pandemic ( Choma et al, 2021 ; Kempthorne & Terrizzi, 2021 ).…”

Left-wing support of authoritarian submission to protect against societal threat

“…In this paper, we thus contribute to the growing literature on the effect of existential threat from COVID-19 on authoritarianism [ 22 , 23 ]. Rather than examining the negative consequences of authoritarianism on society during times of normative threat such as racial prejudice and intolerance of foreigners [ 24 – 27 ], we instead explore its adaptive and protective implications during times of existential threat.…”

Why people were less compliant with public health regulations during the second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak: The role of trust in governmental organizations, future anxiety, fatigue, and Covid-19 risk perception

“…To this end, people seem to have more confidence in their governments when they perceive that the government has the ability, expertise, and technical knowledge to make the best decisions for the public interest (Gozgor, 2021). Furthermore, it was also reported that effective public communication from the social institutions, as well as clear and unambiguous behavioral indications, may reduce the maladjusted behaviors by buffering the intolerance for uncertainty (Bochicchio et al, 2021). Thus, in terms of related psychological constructs, trust in government may elicit a spontaneous sociability and, as a consequence, cooperative and altruistic behaviors in social activities (Uslaner, 2018;Zmerli & Van der Meer, 2017).…”

“…In addition, several socio-demographic factors were considered in the current study, as some of these factors have been proved to increase or decrease the likelihood of adopting protective behaviors during pandemics (Bish & Michie, 2010 ). Specifically, older individuals (e.g., Jones & Salathé, 2009 ; Lau et al 2007 ), women (e.g., Brug et al, 2004 ; Quah & Hin-Peng, 2004 ), people with a higher level of education and socio-economic status (SES; Lau et al, 2007 ), and those who have come into direct contact with the virus (i.e., personal knowledge of people who had been infected by or had died due to Covid-19 or those who have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2; Bochicchio et al, 2021 ) are generally more likely to adopt precautionary behaviors than their counterparts.…”