Individualism-Collectivism and COVID-19 Prevention Behaviors in Young Adults: The Indirect Effects of Psychological Distress and Pandemic Fears

Abstract

Stemming on the theoretical framework of individualism-collectivism, this study aims to interpret COVID-19 prevention behaviors in young adults in the light of cultural orientations, hypothesizing the mediating role of two pandemic affects (i.e., fear for COVID-19 consequences and psychological distress during pandemic). Participants were 296 young adults living in Italy (M_age = 23.96, SD_age = 3.04; 79.7% women), who completed an online anonymous survey. Data were gathered from December 2020 to May 2021. A path analysis model explored direct and indirect relationships among study variables. Psychological distress significantly reduced the compliance with prevention measures, whereas pandemic fears increased it. The collectivistic orientations (Vertical Collectivism and Horizontal Collectivism) positively predicted prevention behaviors via increasing pandemic fears. The egalitarian dimensions (Horizontal Individualism and Horizontal Collectivism) were positive predictors of compliance via reducing psychological distress during pandemic. Finally, Vertical Individualism was a risk factor that negatively predicted prevention behaviors both directly and indirectly, via increasing psychological distress. The results provide new insights into the emotional mechanisms that link individualism and collectivism orientations to COVID-19 prevention behaviors, with interesting implications for public health policies, prevention, and future research.

Keywords:

• Personality
• developmental issues
• values
• wellness
• human factors

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict or competing interests.

Funding

This study did not receive any funding.

Availability of Data and Material

Data will be available by the first author upon request.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

This study and its procedure were approved by the Ethics Committee of Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dora Bianchi

Dora Bianchi, PhD in Psychology, is a PostDoctoral Research Fellow in Developmental Psychology at Sapienza, University of Rome. Her research interests encompass psychological well-being and health-risky behaviors in adolescents and young adults, immigrant adolescents’ well-being, and psychological outcomes during COVID-19 pandemic.

Antonia Lonigro

Antonia Lonigro, is Associate Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at University of Roma Tre, Italy. Her current research interests focus on theory of mind, linguistic and cognitive development, and social competence.

Sara Pompili

Sara Pompili, PhD, is a psychologist expert in eating behavior. Her research is concerned with risk and protective factors related to health risk behaviors among adolescents and young adults, with particular focus on disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.

Daniele Di Tata

Daniele Di Tata, MSc, is a PhD Student in Developmental and Social Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome. His research interests include ethnic identity development, ethnic discrimination and immigrants’ victimization, and health risk behaviors among adolescents and young adults.

Fiorenzo Laghi

Fiorenzo Laghi, is Full Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at Sapienza, University of Rome. His primary research interests focus on prevention of risk behaviors and promotion of positive outcomes for at-risk child and adolescent populations.