Group-based trajectories and predictors of adherence to physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to identify psychosocial predictors of trajectories of adherence to physical distancing alongside changes in public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: A three-time point longitudinal survey during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Participants (N = 1003) completed self-report measures of adherence to physical distancing over an 8-month period at the start (T1) and end (T2) of the first wave of the pandemic, and the start of the second wave of the pandemic (T3). Participants also completed measures of their health beliefs related to the self and others, social norms, emotional distress, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Using group-based trajectory modeling, four trajectories of adherence to physical distancing emerged: a high-adherence trajectory, a slow-declining trajectory, a fluctuating trajectory, and a fast-declining trajectory. The most important psychosocial predictors of poorer adherence trajectories included perceptions of lower self-efficacy and higher barriers to adherence, as well as lower prosocial attitudes towards physical distancing. Conclusion: Public health messages targeting these factors may be most relevant to promote sustained adherence to physical distancing over time in the context of a pandemic.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• adherence
• physical distancing
• health beliefs
• social norms

Author contributions

Sasha MacNeil: Conceptualization, Data Management, Data Analysis, Writing – Original draft, Writing – Review and Editing

Sonya Deschênes: Data Analysis, Writing – Review and Editing

Bärbel Knäuper: Data Analysis, Writing – Review and Editing

Emily Carrese-Chacra: Data Analysis, Writing – Review and Editing

Isaora Zefania Dialahy: Data Analysis

Sooyeon Suh: Writing – Review and Editing

Fabien Durif: Conceptualization, Writing – Review and Editing

Jean-Philippe Gouin: Conceptualization, Data Analysis, Writing – Original Draft, Writing – Review and Editing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding statement

This study was funded by a grant from the Quebec Research Network on Suicide, Mood Disorders, and Associated Disorders and by a Canada Research Chair award to JPG, Canada Research Chair in Stress and Health.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [JPG], upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by a grant from the Quebec Research Network on Suicide, Mood Disorders, and Associated Disorders and by a Canada Research Chair award to JPG, Canada Research Chair in Chronic Stress and Health