Early and later perceptions and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: on predictors of behavioral responses and guideline adherence during the restrictions
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Author (Corporation)
Publication date
2021
Typ of student thesis
Course of study
Type
01A - Journal article
Editors
Editor (Corporation)
Supervisor
Parent work
Frontiers in Psychology
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
Link
Series
Series number
Volume
12
Issue / Number
769206
Pages / Duration
Patent number
Publisher / Publishing institution
Frontiers Research Foundation
Place of publication / Event location
Lausanne
Edition
Version
Programming language
Assignee
Practice partner / Client
Abstract
In March 2020, the German government enacted measures on movement restrictions and social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As this situation was previously unknown, it raised numerous questions about people’s perceptions of and behavioral responses to these new policies. In this context, we were specifically interested in people’s trust in official information, predictors for self-prepping behavior and health behavior to protect oneself and others, and determinants for adherence to social distancing guidelines. To explore these questions, we conducted three studies in which a total of 1,368 participants were surveyed (Study 1 N=377, March 2020; Study 2 N=461, April 2020; Study 3 N=530, April 2021) across Germany between March 2020 and April 2021. Results showed striking differences in the level of trust in official statistics (depending on the source). Furthermore, all three studies showed congruent findings regarding the influence of different factors on the respective behavioral responses. Trust in official statistics predicted behavioral responses in all three studies. However, it did not influence adherence to social distancing guidelines in 2020, but in 2021. Furthermore, adherence to social distancing guidelines was associated with higher acceptance rates of the measures and being older. Being female and less right-wing orientated were positively associated with guidelines adherence only in the studies from 2020. This year, political orientation moderated the association between acceptance of the measures and guideline adherence. This investigation is one of the first to examine perceptions and reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany across 1year and provides insights into important dimensions that need to be considered when communicating with the public.
Keywords
Subject (DDC)
150 - Psychologie
Event
Exhibition start date
Exhibition end date
Conference start date
Conference end date
Date of the last check
ISBN
ISSN
1664-1078
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
No
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
Review
Peer review of the complete publication
Open access category
Closed
License
Citation
LERMER, Eva, Matthias HUDECEK, Susanne GAUBE, Martina RAUE und Falk BATZ, 2021. Early and later perceptions and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: on predictors of behavioral responses and guideline adherence during the restrictions. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021. Bd. 12, Nr. 769206. DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.769206. Verfügbar unter: https://irf.fhnw.ch/handle/11654/47600