High Boredom Proneness and Low Trait Self-Control Impair Adherence to Social Distancing Guidelines during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Wanja Wolff, Corinna S. Martarelli, Julia Schüler and Maik Bieleke
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Wanja Wolff: Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
Corinna S. Martarelli: Faculty of Psychology, Swiss Distance University Institute, 3900 Brig, Switzerland
Julia Schüler: Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
Maik Bieleke: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-10

Abstract: Social distancing during the coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is crucial to reduce the spread of the virus. However, its effectiveness hinges on adherence by individuals who face substantial burdens from the required behavioral restrictions. Here, we investigate sources of individual variation in adhering to social distancing guidelines. In a high-powered study ( N = 895), we tested direct and indirect effects of boredom and self-control on adherence. The results showed that both traits were important predictors of adherence but the underlying mechanisms differed. Specifically, individuals high in boredom perceived social distancing as more difficult, which in turn reduced their adherence (i.e., a mediated effect). In contrast, individuals high in self-control adhered more to the guidelines without perceiving them as more or less difficult; however, self-control moderated the effect of difficulty on adherence. Our results are immediately relevant to improve the efficacy of social distancing guidelines in the COVID-19 response.

Keywords: COVID-19; social-distancing; self-control; boredom; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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