Politicization of COVID-19 health-protective behaviors in the United States: Longitudinal and cross-national evidence.

ABSTRACT: During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. conservative politicians and the media downplayed the risk of both contracting COVID-19 and the effectiveness of recommended health behaviors. Health behavior theories suggest perceived vulnerability to a health threat and perceived effectiveness of recommended health-protective behaviors determine motivation to follow recommendations. Accordingly, we predicted that-as a result of politicization of the pandemic-politically conservative Americans would be less likely to enact recommended health-protective behaviors. In two longitudinal studies of U.S. residents, political conservatism was inversely associated with perceived health risk and adoption of health-protective behaviors over time. The effects of political orientation on health

SUBMITTER: Stroebe W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8528320 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature