Disease avoidance in the time of COVID-19: The behavioral immune system is associated with concern and preventative health behaviors
Disease avoidance in the time of COVID-19: The behavioral immune system is associated with concern and preventative health behaviors
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DOI：
10.1371/journal.pone.0238015
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发表时间：
2020-08-20
期刊：
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Fitzgerald, Holly N.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Shook, Natalie J.;Sevi, Baris;Fitzgerald, Holly N.
2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）对全球健康构成严重威胁。在没有疫苗的情况下，改变行为是减少疾病传播的最有效手段。确定可能鼓励参与预防性健康行为的心理因素至关重要。行为免疫系统（BIS）是一组被认为通过鼓励疾病回避行为来促进健康的心理过程。本研究考察了BIS反应性（细菌厌恶、病原体厌恶敏感性）的个体差异是否与对COVID-19的担忧和参与推荐的预防性健康行为（保持社交距离、洗手、清洁/消毒、避免接触面部、戴口罩）有关。2020年3月20日至23日，美国全国样本（N= 1019）完成了一项在线调查。细菌厌恶和病原体厌恶敏感性是与COVID-19关注和预防性健康行为最一致的两个变量，同时考虑人口统计学、健康和社会心理协变量。研究结果对旨在增加预防性健康行为的干预措施的发展具有启示意义。
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a serious global health threat. Without a vaccine, behavior change is the most effective means of reducing disease transmission. Identifying psychological factors that may encourage engagement in preventative health behaviors is crucial. The behavioral immune system (BIS) represents a set of psychological processes thought to promote health by encouraging disease avoidance behaviors. This study examined whether individual differences in BIS reactivity (germ aversion, pathogen disgust sensitivity) were associated with concern about COVID-19 and engagement in recommended preventative health behaviors (social distancing, handwashing, cleaning/disinfecting, avoiding touching face, wearing facemasks). From March 20 to 23, 2020, a US national sample (N= 1019) completed an online survey. Germ aversion and pathogen disgust sensitivity were the two variables most consistently associated with COVID-19 concern and preventative health behaviors, while accounting for demographic, health, and psychosocial covariates. Findings have implications for the development of interventions intended to increase preventative health behaviors.