Exposure to images showing (non)adherence to physical distancing rules: Effect on adherence behavior and perceived social norms.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Adherence to behavioral measures such as physical distancing are key to mitigating the effects of viral pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Adherence depends in part on people's perception of what others do (descriptive norms) or approve of (injunctive norms). This study examines the effects that exposure to images depicting people following or breaking physical distancing rules have on perceptions of descriptive and injunctive norms and subsequent adherence behavior.

Methods

An online between-subjects experiment (n = 315) was conducted, in which participants were exposed to a set of five photographs of different public spaces in which people either did or did not adhere to physical distancing rules (pre-registration: https://www.osf.io/uek2p). Participants

SUBMITTER: Raghoebar S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9629595 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature