Cross-country differences in anxiety and behavioral response to the Covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

The Covid-19 pandemic is affecting health, social, mental, and economic well-being worldwide, and taking precautions and co-operation is crucial at the individual level. Using data from various sources, this study examines cross-country differences in anxiety levels and behavioral responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, I investigate how economic preferences and development at the country-level are associated with anxiety and behavioral response and whether these factors explain contextual differences. Results show that anxiety was less common among more patient and developed societies. Yet, altruistic societies suffered more from anxiety. Higher levels of positive reciprocity and trust were also associated with stronger health-protective behavioral responses. These findings are important in eliciting the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic for different societies during the ongoing pandemic.

KEYWORDS:

• Covid-19
• anxiety
• behavioral response
• economic preferences
• development

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 I note that Cronbach’s Alpha shown here is informative and do not claim measurement validity. Accordingly, I replicated the analyses by including each item separately rather than using a composite measure. Results are presented in Appendix.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Zafer Buyukkececi

Zafer Buyukkececi is a Research Assistant at University of Cologne, currently working on the NORFACE EQUALLIVES project in which he investigates the dynamics of inequality across the life-course. His research interests include family sociology, demography, social stratification and inequality, and life-course research.