Back to Search Start Over

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Authors :
Legate, Nicole
Nguyen, Thuy Vy
Weinstein, Netta
Moller, Arlen
Legault, Lisa
Vally, Zahir
Tajchman, Zuzanna
Zsido, Andras N.
Zrimsek, Miha
Chen, Zhang
Ziano, Ignazio
Gialitaki, Zoi
Basnight-Brown, Dana M.
Ceary, Chris D.
Jang, Yuna
IJzerman, Hans
Lin, Yijun
Kunisato, Yoshihiko
Yamada, Yuki
Xiao, Qinyu
Jiang, Xiaoming
Du, Xinkai
Yao, Elvin
Ryan, William S.
Wilson, John Paul
Cyrus-Lai, Wilson
Jimenez-Leal, William
Law, Wilbert
Unanue, Wenceslao
Collins, W. Matthew
Richard, Karley L.
Vranka, Marek
Ankushev, Vladislav
Schei, Vidar
Lerche, Veronika
Kovic, Vanja
Krizanic, Valerija
Kadreva, Veselina Hristova
Adoric, Vera Cubela
Tran, Ulrich S.
Yeung, Siu Kit
Hassan, Widad
Houston, Ralph
Urry, Heather L.
Machin, Michael A.
Lima, Tiago J.S.
Chen, Sau Chin
Roczniewska, Marta
Van Schie, Kevin
Ferreira, Ana
Legate, Nicole
Nguyen, Thuy Vy
Weinstein, Netta
Moller, Arlen
Legault, Lisa
Vally, Zahir
Tajchman, Zuzanna
Zsido, Andras N.
Zrimsek, Miha
Chen, Zhang
Ziano, Ignazio
Gialitaki, Zoi
Basnight-Brown, Dana M.
Ceary, Chris D.
Jang, Yuna
IJzerman, Hans
Lin, Yijun
Kunisato, Yoshihiko
Yamada, Yuki
Xiao, Qinyu
Jiang, Xiaoming
Du, Xinkai
Yao, Elvin
Ryan, William S.
Wilson, John Paul
Cyrus-Lai, Wilson
Jimenez-Leal, William
Law, Wilbert
Unanue, Wenceslao
Collins, W. Matthew
Richard, Karley L.
Vranka, Marek
Ankushev, Vladislav
Schei, Vidar
Lerche, Veronika
Kovic, Vanja
Krizanic, Valerija
Kadreva, Veselina Hristova
Adoric, Vera Cubela
Tran, Ulrich S.
Yeung, Siu Kit
Hassan, Widad
Houston, Ralph
Urry, Heather L.
Machin, Michael A.
Lima, Tiago J.S.
Chen, Sau Chin
Roczniewska, Marta
Van Schie, Kevin
Ferreira, Ana
Source :
Psychological Science Accelerator Self-Determination Theory Collaboration , Legate , N , Nguyen , T V , Weinstein , N , Moller , A , Legault , L , Vally , Z , Tajchman , Z , Zsido , A N , Zrimsek , M , Chen , Z , Ziano , I , Gialitaki , Z , Basnight-Brown , D M , Ceary , C D , Jang , Y , IJzerman , H , Lin , Y , Kunisato , Y , Yamada , Y , Xiao , Q , Jiang , X , Du , X , Yao , E , Ryan , W S , Wilson , J P , Cyrus-Lai , W , Jimenez-Leal , W , Law , W , Unanue , W , Collins , W M , Richard , K L , Vranka , M , Ankushev , V , Schei , V , Lerche , V , Kovic , V , Krizanic , V , Kadreva , V H , Adoric , V C , Tran , U S , Yeung , S K , Hassan , W , Houston , R , Urry , H L , Machin , M A , Lima , T J S , Chen , S C , Roczniewska , M , Van Schie , K & Ferreira , A 2022 , ' A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic ' , Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , vol. 119 , no. 22 , e2111091119 .
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This crosscountry, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one's core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people's existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges.

Details

Database :
OAIster
Journal :
Psychological Science Accelerator Self-Determination Theory Collaboration , Legate , N , Nguyen , T V , Weinstein , N , Moller , A , Legault , L , Vally , Z , Tajchman , Z , Zsido , A N , Zrimsek , M , Chen , Z , Ziano , I , Gialitaki , Z , Basnight-Brown , D M , Ceary , C D , Jang , Y , IJzerman , H , Lin , Y , Kunisato , Y , Yamada , Y , Xiao , Q , Jiang , X , Du , X , Yao , E , Ryan , W S , Wilson , J P , Cyrus-Lai , W , Jimenez-Leal , W , Law , W , Unanue , W , Collins , W M , Richard , K L , Vranka , M , Ankushev , V , Schei , V , Lerche , V , Kovic , V , Krizanic , V , Kadreva , V H , Adoric , V C , Tran , U S , Yeung , S K , Hassan , W , Houston , R , Urry , H L , Machin , M A , Lima , T J S , Chen , S C , Roczniewska , M , Van Schie , K & Ferreira , A 2022 , ' A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic ' , Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , vol. 119 , no. 22 , e2111091119 .
Notes :
application/pdf, English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1376783791
Document Type :
Electronic Resource