1. Influence of perceived threat of Covid-19 and HEXACO personality traits on toilet paper stockpiling
- Author
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Theo Toppe, Lisa Garbe, and Richard Rau
- Subjects
Male ,Economics ,Emotions ,Social Sciences ,050109 social psychology ,Hoarding ,Geographical Locations ,Empirical research ,Sociology ,Resource Management ,Psychology ,Big Five personality traits ,media_common ,Multidisciplinary ,05 social sciences ,Social Communication ,Hygiene ,COVID-19 ,Social communication ,Personality ,Personality traits ,Behavior ,Europe ,Pandemics ,Bathroom Equipment ,Anxiety ,Medicine ,Hoarding (economics) ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,Coronavirus Infections ,Social psychology ,Research Article ,Adult ,Paper ,Personality Tests ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Science ,Pneumonia, Viral ,Models, Psychological ,050105 experimental psychology ,Emotionality ,medicine ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Consumer behaviour ,Personality Traits ,Biology and Life Sciences ,Conscientiousness ,Consumer Behavior ,Communications ,Personality Differences ,North America ,People and Places ,Stockpiles - Abstract
Following the fast spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) across Europe and North America in March 2020, many people started stockpiling commodities like toilet paper. Despite the high relevance for public authorities to adequately address stockpiling behavior, empirical studies on the psychological underpinnings of toilet paper stockpiling are still scarce. In this study, we investigated the relation between personality traits, perceived threat of Covid-19, and stockpiling of toilet paper in an online survey (N = 996) across 22 countries. Results suggest that people who felt more threatened by Covid-19 stockpiled more toilet paper. Further, a predisposition towards Emotionality predicted the perceived threat of Covid-19 and affected stockpiling behavior indirectly. Finally, Conscientiousness was related to toilet paper stockpiling, such that individuals higher in Conscientiousness tended to stockpile more toilet paper. These results emphasize the importance of clear communication by public authorities acknowledging anxiety and, at the same time, transmitting a sense of control.
- Published
- 2020