Don't get it or don't spread it: comparing self-interested versus prosocial motivations for COVID-19 prevention behaviors.

ABSTRACT: COVID-19 prevention behaviors may be seen as self-interested or prosocial. Using American samples from MTurk and Prolific (total n = 6850), we investigated which framing is more effective-and motivation is stronger-for fostering prevention behavior intentions. We evaluated messaging that emphasized personal, public, or personal and public benefits of prevention. In initial studies (conducted March 14-16, 2020), the Public treatment was more effective than the Personal treatment, and no less effective than the Personal + Public treatment. In additional studies (conducted April 17-30, 2020), all three treatments were similarly effective. Across all these studies, the perceived public threat of coronavirus was also more strongly associated with prevention intentions than the perceived persona

SUBMITTER: Jordan JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8511002 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature