RESUMO

Resumen Cumplir con las medidas de prevención de la salud es fundamental para controlar brotes de enfermedades infecciosas como aquellos causados por la COVID-19. Se han realizados numerosas investigaciones para comprender algunas variables psicosociales (desde personalidad hasta diferencias culturales) asociadas con las conductas de precaución en contextos de pandemia. Sin embargo, se sabe poco sobre el papel que el capital y la responsabilidad social pueden jugar en estos comportamientos de precaución en el contexto de la pandemia del COVID-19. El presente trabajo aborda variables psicológicas asociadas con el capital social y conductas socialmente responsables (e.g. amabilidad, empatía, apoyo social, justicia, impulsividad, conducta cívica), que ayudan a un grupo a desarrollar actividades socialmente valiosas propiciando el cumplimiento de las medidas de prevención. El presente estudio evaluó el efecto del capital social y variables asociadas (e.g., personalidad, apoyo social) en comportamientos precautorios relacionados con el COVID-19. Se utilizaron regresiones jerárquicas y modelos mediacionales en 3 diferentes muestras mexicanas (muestra 1: n=709, muestra 2: n=718, muestra 3: n= 309). Los resultados muestran que las variables asociadas con la responsabilidad social evaluadas aquí, con excepción de la legitimidad y la justicia distributiva, se relacionan con un mayor reporte de conductas de precaución. Estos resultados sugieren un enfoque encaminado a aumentar el capital y la responsabilidad social para reducir el efecto de enfermedades infecciosas como el COVID-19.

Abstract Compliance with health protection measures is essential to control outbreaks of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Extensive research has been done in the pursuit of understanding psychosocial variables (e.g., personality to cultural differences) associated with precautionary behaviors. However, little is known about the role social capital and responsibility may play on these behaviors in the context of COVID-19. The present work assessed psychological variables associated with social capital and responsibility (e.g. agreeableness, empathy, social support, justice, impulsivity, civic behaviors), which help the development of socially valuable activities leading individuals to comply with preventative measures. The present study, using 3 different Mexican samples (sample 1, n=709; sample 2, n=718; sample 3, n= 309) explored the effect of social capital, civic culture, and associated variables (e.g., personality, social support) on COVID-19 related precautionary behaviors using hierarchical linear regressions and mediational models. In the first sample, we explored the relationship between empathy, impulsivity, and precautionary behaviors. In the second sample, we explored whether trust in authorities, social support, and social pressure predicted these behaviors. In the third sample, we used a longitudinal design to assess the mediating role of prosocial and socially responsible behaviors between personality and precautionary behaviors. Results from the first sample showed that empathy predicted precautionary behaviors. In the second sample, we observed that although legitimacy and distributive justice did not predict precautionary behaviors, social pressure had a negative and social support had a positive effect on these behaviors. Finally, our longitudinal data suggested that those who report higher conscientiousness and agreeableness also report more socially responsible and prosocial behaviors and in turn report higher precautionary behaviors. In general, results from all samples, showed that the variables associated with social capital and responsibility are significantly related with increased report of precautionary behaviors. These results suggest that efforts should be focused on increasing social capital and responsibility while seeking to reduce the spread and deleterious effects of infectious diseases like COVID-19.

RESUMO

The first lines of defense during an epidemic are behavioral interventions, including stay-at-home measures or precautionary health training, aimed at reducing contact and disease transmission. Examining the psychosocial variables that may lead to greater adoption of such precautionary behaviors is critical. The present study examines predictors of precautionary practices against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 709 Mexican participants from 24 states. The study was conducted via online questionnaire between the end of March and the beginning of April 2020, when the pandemic response was in its initial stages in Mexico. The instrument included demographic items, as well as scales assessing COVID-19-resembling symptoms, empathy, impulsivity, anhedonic depression, general health practices, alcohol consumption, and COVID-19-associated precautionary behaviors. Most participants reported adopting limited social distancing or other precautionary behaviors against COVID-19. The results of a structural equation model demonstrated that the presence of COVID-19 symptoms was related to impulsivity and general health behaviors. However, no direct association between precautionary behaviors and the presence of COVID-19 symptoms was found. In turn, precautionary behaviors were more prevalent among participants who reported higher empathy and general health behaviors and were inhibited indirectly by impulsivity via alcohol consumption. Furthermore, the model suggests that anhedonic depression symptoms have a negative indirect effect on precautionary behaviors via general health behaviors. Finally, impulsivity showed a negative direct effect on general health behavior. These results highlight the role that general physical health and mental health play on precautionary behavior and the critical importance of addressing issues such as depression, general health behaviors, and impulsivity in promoting safe actions and the protection of self and others.