Trust in government regarding COVID-19 and its associations with preventive health behaviour and prosocial behaviour during the pandemic: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study

PsyCorona Collaboration

doi:10.1017/S0033291721001306

Trust in government regarding COVID-19 and its associations with preventive health behaviour and prosocial behaviour during the pandemic: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study

PsyCorona Collaboration

University of Bristol
Imperial College London
Heriot-Watt University
University of Groningen
New York University Abu Dhabi
University of Thessaly
International Islamic University Malaysia
Pristine University
Ankara Science University
University of Sargodha
Sabanci University
De La Salle University
University of Virginia
Thammasat University
Sungkyunkwan University
Eötvös Loránd University
University of Belgrade
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Leuphana University of Lüneburg
University ‘La Sapienza'’
University of Kent
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iaşi
Duke University
Jagiellonian University in Kraków
Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
Setif 2 University
Menoufia University
University of Indonesia
National Chung Cheng University
University of Novi Sad
University of Zagreb
Yale-NUS College
HCMC University of Education
University of Maryland, College Park
Durham University
Osnabrück University
Udayana University
University of Queensland
Université Clermont Auvergne
University of Sheffield
Vanderbilt University
Usmanu Danfodiyo University
University of Córdoba
University of Peshawar
Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch
Universidad de Chile
Higher School of Economics
NUCB Business School
University of Camerino
University of Bielefeld
University of Siena
International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan
New York University Shanghai
University of Amsterdam
King Saud University
California State University East Bay
Nagoya University
Leiden University
Utrecht University
University of Georgia
Lingnan University, Hong Kong

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

300 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background The effective implementation of government policies and measures for controlling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires compliance from the public. This study aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of trust in government regarding COVID-19 control with the adoption of recommended health behaviours and prosocial behaviours, and potential determinants of trust in government during the pandemic. Methods This study analysed data from the PsyCorona Survey, an international project on COVID-19 that included 23 733 participants from 23 countries (representative in age and gender distributions by country) at baseline survey and 7785 participants who also completed follow-up surveys. Specification curve analysis was used to examine concurrent associations between trust in government and self-reported behaviours. We further used structural equation model to explore potential determinants of trust in government. Multilevel linear regressions were used to examine associations between baseline trust and longitudinal behavioural changes. Results Higher trust in government regarding COVID-19 control was significantly associated with higher adoption of health behaviours (handwashing, avoiding crowded space, self-quarantine) and prosocial behaviours in specification curve analyses (median standardised β = 0.173 and 0.229, p < 0.001). Government perceived as well organised, disseminating clear messages and knowledge on COVID-19, and perceived fairness were positively associated with trust in government (standardised β = 0.358, 0.230, 0.056, and 0.249, p < 0.01). Higher trust at baseline survey was significantly associated with lower rate of decline in health behaviours over time (p for interaction = 0.001). Conclusions These results highlighted the importance of trust in government in the control of COVID-19.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	149-159
Number of pages	11
Journal	Psychological Medicine
Volume	53
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291721001306
State	Published - 26 Jan 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.1017/S0033291721001306

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@article{2c32df2027204ef1b15e7574bab168c0,

title = "Trust in government regarding COVID-19 and its associations with preventive health behaviour and prosocial behaviour during the pandemic: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study",

abstract = "Background The effective implementation of government policies and measures for controlling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires compliance from the public. This study aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of trust in government regarding COVID-19 control with the adoption of recommended health behaviours and prosocial behaviours, and potential determinants of trust in government during the pandemic. Methods This study analysed data from the PsyCorona Survey, an international project on COVID-19 that included 23 733 participants from 23 countries (representative in age and gender distributions by country) at baseline survey and 7785 participants who also completed follow-up surveys. Specification curve analysis was used to examine concurrent associations between trust in government and self-reported behaviours. We further used structural equation model to explore potential determinants of trust in government. Multilevel linear regressions were used to examine associations between baseline trust and longitudinal behavioural changes. Results Higher trust in government regarding COVID-19 control was significantly associated with higher adoption of health behaviours (handwashing, avoiding crowded space, self-quarantine) and prosocial behaviours in specification curve analyses (median standardised β = 0.173 and 0.229, p < 0.001). Government perceived as well organised, disseminating clear messages and knowledge on COVID-19, and perceived fairness were positively associated with trust in government (standardised β = 0.358, 0.230, 0.056, and 0.249, p < 0.01). Higher trust at baseline survey was significantly associated with lower rate of decline in health behaviours over time (p for interaction = 0.001). Conclusions These results highlighted the importance of trust in government in the control of COVID-19.",

author = "\{PsyCorona Collaboration\} and Qing Han and Bang Zheng and Mioara Cristea and Maximilian Agostini and B{\'e}langer, \{Jocelyn J.\} and Ben G{\"u}tzkow and Jannis Kreienkamp and Leander, \{N. Pontus\} and Georgios Abakoumkin and Khaiyom, \{Jamilah Hanum Abdul\} and Vjollca Ahmedi and Handan Akkas and Almenara, \{Carlos A.\} and Mohsin Atta and Bagci, \{Sabahat Cigdem\} and Sima Basel and Kida, \{Edona Berisha\} and Bernardo, \{Allan B.I.\} and Buttrick, \{Nicholas R.\} and Phatthanakit Chobthamkit and Choi, \{Hoon Seok\} and S{\'a}ra Csaba and Kaja Damnjanovic and Ivan Danyliuk and Arobindu Dash and \{Di Santo\}, Daniela and Douglas, \{Karen M.\} and Violeta Enea and Faller, \{Daiane Gracieli\} and Fitzsimons, \{Gavan J.\} and Alexandra Gheorghiu and Joanna Grzymala-Moszczynska and {\'A}ngel G{\'o}mez and Ali Hamaidia and Mai Helmy and Joevarian Hudiyana and Jeronimus, \{Bertus F.\} and Jiang, \{Ding Yu\} and Veljko Jovanovic and {\v Z}eljka Kamenov and Anna Kende and Keng, \{Shian Ling\} and Kieu, \{Tra Thi Thanh\} and Yasin Koc and Kamila Kovyazina and Inna Kozytska and Joshua Krause and Kruglanski, \{Arie W.\} and Anton Kurapov and Maja Kutlaca",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press.",

year = "2023",

month = jan,

day = "26",

doi = "10.1017/S0033291721001306",

language = "Ingl{\'e}s",

volume = "53",

pages = "149--159",

journal = "Psychological Medicine",

issn = "0033-2917",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

number = "1",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Trust in government regarding COVID-19 and its associations with preventive health behaviour and prosocial behaviour during the pandemic

T2 - A cross-sectional and longitudinal study

AU - PsyCorona Collaboration

AU - Han, Qing

AU - Zheng, Bang

AU - Cristea, Mioara

AU - Agostini, Maximilian

AU - Bélanger, Jocelyn J.

AU - Gützkow, Ben

AU - Kreienkamp, Jannis

AU - Leander, N. Pontus

AU - Abakoumkin, Georgios

AU - Khaiyom, Jamilah Hanum Abdul

AU - Ahmedi, Vjollca

AU - Akkas, Handan

AU - Almenara, Carlos A.

AU - Atta, Mohsin

AU - Bagci, Sabahat Cigdem

AU - Basel, Sima

AU - Kida, Edona Berisha

AU - Bernardo, Allan B.I.

AU - Buttrick, Nicholas R.

AU - Chobthamkit, Phatthanakit

AU - Choi, Hoon Seok

AU - Csaba, Sára

AU - Damnjanovic, Kaja

AU - Danyliuk, Ivan

AU - Dash, Arobindu

AU - Di Santo, Daniela

AU - Douglas, Karen M.

AU - Enea, Violeta

AU - Faller, Daiane Gracieli

AU - Fitzsimons, Gavan J.

AU - Gheorghiu, Alexandra

AU - Grzymala-Moszczynska, Joanna

AU - Gómez, Ángel

AU - Hamaidia, Ali

AU - Helmy, Mai

AU - Hudiyana, Joevarian

AU - Jeronimus, Bertus F.

AU - Jiang, Ding Yu

AU - Jovanovic, Veljko

AU - Kamenov, Željka

AU - Kende, Anna

AU - Keng, Shian Ling

AU - Kieu, Tra Thi Thanh

AU - Koc, Yasin

AU - Kovyazina, Kamila

AU - Kozytska, Inna

AU - Krause, Joshua

AU - Kruglanski, Arie W.

AU - Kurapov, Anton

AU - Kutlaca, Maja

PY - 2023/1/26

Y1 - 2023/1/26

N2 - Background The effective implementation of government policies and measures for controlling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires compliance from the public. This study aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of trust in government regarding COVID-19 control with the adoption of recommended health behaviours and prosocial behaviours, and potential determinants of trust in government during the pandemic. Methods This study analysed data from the PsyCorona Survey, an international project on COVID-19 that included 23 733 participants from 23 countries (representative in age and gender distributions by country) at baseline survey and 7785 participants who also completed follow-up surveys. Specification curve analysis was used to examine concurrent associations between trust in government and self-reported behaviours. We further used structural equation model to explore potential determinants of trust in government. Multilevel linear regressions were used to examine associations between baseline trust and longitudinal behavioural changes. Results Higher trust in government regarding COVID-19 control was significantly associated with higher adoption of health behaviours (handwashing, avoiding crowded space, self-quarantine) and prosocial behaviours in specification curve analyses (median standardised β = 0.173 and 0.229, p < 0.001). Government perceived as well organised, disseminating clear messages and knowledge on COVID-19, and perceived fairness were positively associated with trust in government (standardised β = 0.358, 0.230, 0.056, and 0.249, p < 0.01). Higher trust at baseline survey was significantly associated with lower rate of decline in health behaviours over time (p for interaction = 0.001). Conclusions These results highlighted the importance of trust in government in the control of COVID-19.

AB - Background The effective implementation of government policies and measures for controlling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires compliance from the public. This study aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of trust in government regarding COVID-19 control with the adoption of recommended health behaviours and prosocial behaviours, and potential determinants of trust in government during the pandemic. Methods This study analysed data from the PsyCorona Survey, an international project on COVID-19 that included 23 733 participants from 23 countries (representative in age and gender distributions by country) at baseline survey and 7785 participants who also completed follow-up surveys. Specification curve analysis was used to examine concurrent associations between trust in government and self-reported behaviours. We further used structural equation model to explore potential determinants of trust in government. Multilevel linear regressions were used to examine associations between baseline trust and longitudinal behavioural changes. Results Higher trust in government regarding COVID-19 control was significantly associated with higher adoption of health behaviours (handwashing, avoiding crowded space, self-quarantine) and prosocial behaviours in specification curve analyses (median standardised β = 0.173 and 0.229, p < 0.001). Government perceived as well organised, disseminating clear messages and knowledge on COVID-19, and perceived fairness were positively associated with trust in government (standardised β = 0.358, 0.230, 0.056, and 0.249, p < 0.01). Higher trust at baseline survey was significantly associated with lower rate of decline in health behaviours over time (p for interaction = 0.001). Conclusions These results highlighted the importance of trust in government in the control of COVID-19.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85103442450

U2 - 10.1017/S0033291721001306

DO - 10.1017/S0033291721001306

M3 - Artículo

C2 - 33769242

AN - SCOPUS:85103442450

SN - 0033-2917

VL - 53

SP - 149

EP - 159

JO - Psychological Medicine

JF - Psychological Medicine

IS - 1

ER -

Trust in government regarding COVID-19 and its associations with preventive health behaviour and prosocial behaviour during the pandemic: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study

Abstract

UN SDGs

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