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Exploring Predictors of Social Distancing Compliance in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2021

Alexa C Hansen ,
Charlotte V Farewell ,
Jennifer S Jewell  and
Jenn A Leiferman
Alexa C Hansen*
Affiliation:
Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
Charlotte V Farewell
Affiliation:
Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
Jennifer S Jewell
Affiliation:
Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
Jenn A Leiferman
Affiliation:
Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
*
Corresponding author: Alexa Hansen, Email: alexa.hansen@cuanschutz.edu.
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Abstract

Objective:

Through the application of the Health Belief Model, this study sought to explore how relationships between perceived susceptibility, severity, and benefits of social distancing recommendations, as well as psychological factors, may impact compliance with COVID-19 social distancing recommendations in the United States.

Methods:

Between October and November 2020, a convenience sample of English-speaking adults in the United States completed an online, cross-sectional survey which included items assessing beliefs around threats (e.g., perceived susceptibility and severity), response efficacy (e.g., perceived benefits), psychological factors (e.g., stress and COVID-specific anxiety), and compliance with social distancing measures (e.g., avoiding social gatherings).

Results:

Social distancing compliance was positively associated with perceived susceptibility of COVID-19 (b = 0.42, P < 0.05) and perceived benefits of social distancing recommendations (b = 0.81, P < 0.01). No significant associations were found between perceived severity of COVID-19 (P = 0.38), general stress (P = 0.28), COVID-19-related anxiety (P = 0.12), and compliance.

Conclusions:

Findings suggest that perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 and perceived benefits of social distancing measures significantly increased compliance with social distancing recommendations in this convenience sample of U.S. adults.

Keywords

public healthcovid-19health belief modelanxietysocial distancing
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e32
Copyright
© Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2021

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