Conceptual replication and extension of health behavior theories' predictions in the context of COVID-19: Evidence across countries and over time

  • Georgios Abakoumkin*
  • , Eleftheria Tseliou
  • , Kira O. McCabe
  • , Edward P. Lemay
  • , Wolfgang Stroebe
  • , Maximilian Agostini
  • , Jocelyn J. Bélanger
  • , Ben Gützkow
  • , Jannis Kreienkamp
  • , Maja Kutlaca
  • , Michelle R. VanDellen
  • , Jamilah Hanum Abdul Khaiyom
  • , Vjollca Ahmedi
  • , Handan Akkas
  • , Carlos A. Almenara
  • , Mohsin Atta
  • , Sabahat Cigdem Bagci
  • , Sima Basel
  • , Edona Berisha Kida
  • , Allan B.I. Bernardo
  • Nicholas R. Buttrick, Phatthanakit Chobthamkit, Hoon Seok Choi, Mioara Cristea, Sára Csaba, Kaja Damnjanovic, Ivan Danyliuk, Daniela Di Santo, Karen M. Douglas, Violeta Enea, Daiane Gracieli Faller, Gavan Fitzsimons, Alexandra Gheorghiu, Ángel Gómez, Joanna Grzymala-Moszczynska, Ali Hamaidia, Qing Han, Mai Helmy, Joevarian Hudiyana, Bertus F. Jeronimus, Ding Yu Jiang, Veljko Jovanović, Željka Kamenov, Anna Kende, Shian Ling Keng, Tra Thi Thanh Kieu, Yasin Koc, Kamila Kovyazina, Inna Kozytska, Caspar J. Van Lissa
*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
56 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Virus mitigation behavior has been and still is a powerful means to fight the COVID-19 pandemic irrespective of the availability of pharmaceutical means (e.g., vaccines). We drew on health behavior theories to predict health-protective (coping-specific) responses and hope (coping non-specific response) from health-related cognitions (vulnerability, severity, self-assessed knowledge, efficacy). In an extension of this model, we proposed orientation to internal (problem-focused coping) and external (country capability) coping resources as antecedents of health protection and hope; health-related cognitions were assumed as mediators of this link. We tested these predictions in a large multi-national multi-wave study with a cross-sectional panel at T1 (Baseline, March-April 2020; N = 57,631 in 113 countries) and a panel subsample at two later time points, T2 (November 2020; N = 3097) and T3 (April 2021; N = 2628). Multilevel models showed that health-related cognitions predicted health-protective responses and hope. Problem-focused coping was mainly linked to health-protective behaviors (T1-T3), whereas country capability was mainly linked to hope (T1-T3). These relationships were partially mediated by health-related cognitions. We conceptually replicated predictions of health behavior theories within a real health threat, further suggesting how different coping resources are associated with qualitatively distinct outcomes. Both patterns were consistent across countries and time.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere12909
Number of pages16
JournalSocial and Personality Psychology Compass
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Keywords

  • coping
  • country capability
  • COVID-19
  • health behavior theories
  • hope
  • problem-focused coping
  • virus mitigation behavior

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