Journal Article

National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic

Davis, Victoria H, Osaka University [Osaka], Mdarhri, Hamza Alaoui, University of Limerick (UL), Salvador-Ginez, Octavio, Etienne, Tom W, Wójcik, Adrian Dominik, Todosijević, Bojan, Onderco, Michal, Tung, Hans H, Laboratoire de Psychologie : Cognition, Comportement, Communication (LP3C - EA1285) ; Université de Bretagne Sud (UBS)-Université de Brest (UBO)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2)-Institut Brestois des Sciences de l'Homme et de la Société (IBSHS) ; Université de Brest (UBO), Medical University of Silesia (SUM), Pyrkosz-Pacyna, Joanna, University of Virginia, Laguna, Oscar, University of Turku, Cunningham, William A, University of Ottawa [Ottawa], University of Toronto, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ), Catholic University of Leuven = Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Universiteit van Amsterdam = University of Amsterdam (UvA), Pärnamets, Philip, McCashin, Darragh, Metcalf, Alexander, Keudel, Oleksandra, Institute for Research and Development-Kurdistan, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities (SWPS), Ekmanis, Jā

2022

Overview

Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic(r = −0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group,CCSD,Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 692/699/255/2514 / 706/689/477/2811 / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / COVID-19 - epidemiology / COVID-19 - prevention & control / COVID-19 - psychology / Cross-Cultural Comparison / Disease transmission / Economics and Finance / Health Behavior / Health policy / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / Hygiene / International cooperation / Leadership / Life Sciences / Mobility / multidisciplinary / National identity / Pandemics / Pandemics - legislation & jurisprudence / Pandemics - prevention & control / Pandemics - statistics & numerical data / Political science / Public health / Public Health - legislation & jurisprudence / Public policy / Santé publique et épidémiologie / SARS-CoV-2 / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Self Report / Social Conformity / Social Identification / Sociology
• ISBN: 0007474071000