Predictors of Staying at Home during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Lockdown based on Protection Motivation Theory: A Cross-Sectional Study in Japan

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a social lockdown should be put in place and individuals should stay at home. Behavioral change is the only way to prevent the pandemic and overwhelmed healthcare systems until vaccines are available. We aimed to examine the psychological factors that predict staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic and social lockdown. A total of 1980 participants in Japan completed a survey for this study from May 9 to 11, 2020, when the state of emergency covered all prefectures in the country. Self-reported behavior in terms of staying at home, the perceived severity of the pandemic, vulnerability to the pandemic, response efficacy, and self-efficacy based on protection motivation theory were assessed. Multiple regression analysis showed that perceived severity (standardized β = 0.11, p < 0.001) and self-efficacy (standardized β = 0.32, p < 0.001) significantly predicted greater levels of staying at home, after controlling for socio-demographics. However, perceived vulnerability and response efficacy did not. To encourage people to stay at home during the pandemic and social lockdown, increasing the perceived severity of infection by COVID-19 and self-efficacy in terms of exercising restraint with respect to going out may consequently encourage people to stay at home.

The Protection motivation theory for predict intention of COVID-19 vaccination in Iran: A structural equation modeling approach

“…Like this study's results, perceived severity leads to threat appraisal more than perceived vulnerability, and perceived self-e cacy and perceived response e ciency leads to coping appraisal (35). Therefore, to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19, more emphasis should be placed on perceived severity and perceived response e ciency.…”

The Psychological Consequences of COVID-19 Fear and the Moderator Effects of Individuals’ Underlying Illness and Witnessing Infected Friends and Family

“…When the psychological consequences of the call to “Stay at Home” for isolation during the pandemic are examined, it is understood that this practice, critical for protecting physical health, has negative psychological and economic consequences [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Studies have shown that staying at home increases depression, health anxiety, financial concern, and loneliness [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. All limitations and practices have further increased the fear and anxiety of individuals for COVID-19.…”

A cost-effective plan for global testing - an infection rate stratified, algorithm guided, multiple-level, continuously pooled testing strategy

“…We assume that the successful inoculation of the population worldwide with a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 will require at least one year or longer, although a vaccine may only reduce rather than stop transmission. We also face the fact that most regions and countries will cease movement restrictions (“reopen”) despite the continuing pandemic or new round of shutdown ( Okuhara et al, 2020 ). Accordingly, we hypothesize that testing the entire human population can be done with a well-planned strategy that takes advantage of new biotechnology, statistical analysis tools, data planning, analytical platforms, public resources, and governments' and organizations' support.…”

“…Because of combined contact and droplet transmission routes ( Sommerstein et al, 2020 ), a complex response to infection, and asymptomatic carriers, focused and individual population tests are not adequate to identify all infected individuals ( Chan et al, 2020 ; Chen et al, 2020 ). Faced with this situation, some government entities severely restricted movement by issuing “stay at home” orders or blocking entry by non-residents ( Okuhara et al, 2020 ). Such measures are effective ways to prevent new transmissions.…”