RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Perceived vulnerability and severity predict adherence to COVID-19 protection measures: The mediating role of instrumental coping
A1 González Castro, José Luis
A1 Ubillos Landa, Silvia
A1 Puente Martínez, Alicia
A1 Gracia Leiva, Marcela
K1 COVID-19
K1 Protection measures
K1 Vulnerability
K1 Severity
K1 Instrumental coping
K1 Self-efficacy
K1 Longitudinal study
K1 Covid-19
K1 COVID-19 (Disease)
K1 Conducta
K1 Human behavior
AB The COVID-19 disease has caused thousands of deaths worldwide and required the rapid and drastic adoption of various protective measures as main resources in the fight to reduce the spread of the disease. In the present study we aimed to identify socio cognitive factors that may influence adherence to protective measures toward COVID-19 in a Spanish sample. This longitudinal study analyzes the predictive value of perceived severity and vulnerability of infection, self-efficacy, direct exposure to the virus, and instrumental focused coping style for adhering to infection protection behaviors during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also tests sex and age differences in these factors and changes over time. A two-wave longitudinal study (N = 757) was conducted in March and April 2020 starting the day after a strict national lockdown was decreed in Spain. A path analysis was used to test direct and indirect effects between vulnerability and the adherence to protective behaviors. Results suggest that individuals' perceived severity and vulnerability to COVID-19 and instrumental coping strategies are related to the use of more protective behaviors. This coping strategy mediates the effect of perceived vulnerability on engaging in protective behaviors, and this effect depends on direct exposure to COVID-19 and perceived self-efficacy moderators. Results suggest that recognizing one's own abilities to engage in instrumental actions may facilitate adherence to protective measures in people who had not been directly exposed to COVID-19. Therefore, adopting instrumental coping strategies to manage an individual's perceived vulnerability to infection may positively impact the adherence to protective behaviors, especially during the onset of an unexpected threat and when there is no prior direct experience with the situation.
PB Frontiers Media
SN 1664-1078
YR 2021
FD 2021-07
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11107
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11107
LA eng
NO This research was supported by funds awarded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Department of Education of the Junta de Castilla y León (Spain) by order of 19 June 2020 to the project Coping Strategies in the Health Emergency Situation created by COVID-19. The University of Burgos awarded funding to the Social Inclusion and Quality of Life (SIQoL) research group.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Burgos
RD 17-abr-2026