Why do Muslims engage in adaptive worship behavior during the pandemic? The role of protection motives and religiosity

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate whether the protection motivation theory (PMT) and religiosity can explain the intention of at-home worship adaptive behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study further explores factors that may affect this adaptive behavior, namely, the intention to adapt behavior, religiosity, social influence and trust in the government. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through an online survey to purposively sample the respondents, resulting in 368 responses that were valid for structural analysis using partial least squares structual equation modeling (SEM). Findings This study found that PMT, and not religiosity, directly predicts an individual’s intention to adapt his/her behavior to at-home worship during the pandemic. Religiosity, however, has a role in evoking a coping appraisal that leads to the intention to enact the adaptive behavior. Further, this study found that intention, social influence and trust in the government predict an individual’s adaptive behavior for at-home worship. Practical implications This study may guide the government to create a policy that could enhance people’s adherence to adaptive behavior during the pandemic, particularly regarding their communication strategy by focusing on the cognitive and psychological aspects. In particular, framing based on this study’s result may serve as an insight for better prevention of virus transmission through a focused communications strategy. Originality/value First, the utilization of PMT to explain adaptive behavior in the context of at-home worship during the pandemic was extended. Second, the research of religiosity in the context of a pandemic was advanced and how it influences adaptive behavior was investigated. Finally, the utilization of partial least squares-SEM techniques to investigate individual adaptive behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic was extended.

Do fear and perceived knowledge of Covid-19 drive sustainable consumption behaviour in Muslims? The mediating role of religiosity

“…In the study by Alam et al (2011), religiosity has been found as an essential antecedent and significant mediator in determining the behaviour of Muslim consumers. Rostiani et al (2021) also found that religiosity drives the adaptive coping behaviour among Muslims during the Covid-19 pandemic.…”

“…In a religion-dominant country such as Pakistan, it is pertinent to see the behavioural change expected by the Covid-19 through the lens of religiosity. Studies have investigated the impact of Covid-19 fear on religiosity (Boguszewski et al, 2020;Lucchetti et al, 2021;Rostiani et al, 2021;Wildman et al, 2020;Yıldırım et al, 2021) and SCB (Chae, 2021;Esposti et al, 2021;Jian et al, 2020) separately. However, quantitative research with primary data examining the impact of Covid-19 fear and PK on SCB with the mediating effect of religiosity is rare.…”

“…IR is also relatively crucial to be studied in Covid-19 because because of social distancing, self-isolation and lockdown measures, people avoided physical interactions with others and were confined to their homes. From the perspective of this outbreak, several studies have discussed its possible effects on consumers’ religiosity (Boguszewski et al , 2020; Lucchetti et al , 2021; Rostiani et al , 2021; Wildman et al , 2020; Yıldırım et al , 2021). However, surveys investigating the impact of negative emotions such as Covid-19 fear on the IR of Muslims concerning their consumption behaviour are lacking (Usman et al , 2021).…”

COVID-19 pandemic shopping experience in Saudi Arabia: scale development and validation for Muslim customers

“…The act of keeping a distance from person to person limits the probability to contact the infected surfaces of an infected person (Bzdok and Dunbar, 2020). To restrict the spread of COVID-19, all governments, including Islamic ones, adopted the preventive step of SD for mosque prayer (Rostiani et al, 2021). Organizations started following precautions for employees as well as for consumers during this difficult time.…”

Social Support, Religiosity, and Health Literacy as Predictors of Resilience in Pregnant Women during COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The received social support can affect the degree of anxiety of the individual because it cannot be denied that the psychosocial changes during pregnancy affect the emotional state (Gao et al, 2020). Apart from social support, Rostiani, Toyib, & Khoiriyah (2021) explained that religiosity is one factor that affects resilience. It is believed that religious activities can promote the adaptability of individuals (including pregnant women) during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”