Compassionate goals predict COVID-19 health behaviors during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: We predicted that people with compassionate goals to support others and not harm them practiced more COVID-19 health behaviors during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to protect both themselves and others from infection. Three studies (N = 1,143 American adults) supported these predictions and ruled out several alternative explanations. Compassionate goals unrelated to the health context predicted COVID-19 health behaviors better than the general motivation to be healthy (Studies 2 and 3). In contrast, general health motivation predicted general health behaviors better than did compassionate goals. Compassionate goals and political ideology each explained unique variance in COVID-19 health behaviors (Studies 1-3). Compassionate goals predict unique variance in COVID-19 health behaviors beyond empat

SUBMITTER: Ospina J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8345887 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature