Compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures during the onset of the pandemic in Australia: investigating the role of trust in federal and state governments and scientists
Objective The current study explored (1) changes in trust in federal and state governments and scientists across representative Australian national samples from 2003–2020; and (2) the extent to which trust in these sources predicted compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures at the onset of the pa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Australian Journal of Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2023.2224453 |
| _version_ | 1827818506290200576 |
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| author | Brad Elphinstone Melissa A. Wheeler Julian Oldmeadow Diane Sivasubramaniam James Williams Samuel G. Wilson Christine Critchley |
| author_facet | Brad Elphinstone Melissa A. Wheeler Julian Oldmeadow Diane Sivasubramaniam James Williams Samuel G. Wilson Christine Critchley |
| author_sort | Brad Elphinstone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective The current study explored (1) changes in trust in federal and state governments and scientists across representative Australian national samples from 2003–2020; and (2) the extent to which trust in these sources predicted compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures at the onset of the pandemic. Method Using a nationally representative samples (N = 1000), we asked participants to rate their trust in federal and state government and in scientists, their extent of compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures, and to provide demographic information. Results We found that trust in federal and state governments had significantly increased, while trust in scientists was at a high level matched by only three other time-points. Higher levels of trust in state government and scientists uniquely predicted greater compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures. Women and older respondents also reported greater compliance. Conclusion The current findings reinforce those from Australia and other countries indicating that trust increased during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and those identifying trust in government and in scientists as important predictors of compliance. Importantly, our findings highlight the role of trust in state government, which potentially reflects the role played by Australian state governments in enacting and enforcing COVID-19 prevention measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:55:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-01fd62b45cf9461faa7337d175f1b768 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0004-9530 1742-9536 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:55:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian Journal of Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-01fd62b45cf9461faa7337d175f1b7682023-09-14T13:24:38ZengTaylor & Francis GroupAustralian Journal of Psychology0004-95301742-95362023-12-0175110.1080/00049530.2023.22244532224453Compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures during the onset of the pandemic in Australia: investigating the role of trust in federal and state governments and scientistsBrad Elphinstone0Melissa A. Wheeler1Julian Oldmeadow2Diane Sivasubramaniam3James Williams4Samuel G. Wilson5Christine Critchley6Swinburne University of TechnologySwinburne University of TechnologySwinburne University of TechnologySwinburne University of TechnologySwinburne University of TechnologySwinburne University of TechnologySwinburne University of TechnologyObjective The current study explored (1) changes in trust in federal and state governments and scientists across representative Australian national samples from 2003–2020; and (2) the extent to which trust in these sources predicted compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures at the onset of the pandemic. Method Using a nationally representative samples (N = 1000), we asked participants to rate their trust in federal and state government and in scientists, their extent of compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures, and to provide demographic information. Results We found that trust in federal and state governments had significantly increased, while trust in scientists was at a high level matched by only three other time-points. Higher levels of trust in state government and scientists uniquely predicted greater compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures. Women and older respondents also reported greater compliance. Conclusion The current findings reinforce those from Australia and other countries indicating that trust increased during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and those identifying trust in government and in scientists as important predictors of compliance. Importantly, our findings highlight the role of trust in state government, which potentially reflects the role played by Australian state governments in enacting and enforcing COVID-19 prevention measures.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2023.2224453australiacompliancecovid-19governmentscientiststrust |
| spellingShingle | Brad Elphinstone Melissa A. Wheeler Julian Oldmeadow Diane Sivasubramaniam James Williams Samuel G. Wilson Christine Critchley Compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures during the onset of the pandemic in Australia: investigating the role of trust in federal and state governments and scientists Australian Journal of Psychology australia compliance covid-19 government scientists trust |
| title | Compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures during the onset of the pandemic in Australia: investigating the role of trust in federal and state governments and scientists |
| title_full | Compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures during the onset of the pandemic in Australia: investigating the role of trust in federal and state governments and scientists |
| title_fullStr | Compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures during the onset of the pandemic in Australia: investigating the role of trust in federal and state governments and scientists |
| title_full_unstemmed | Compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures during the onset of the pandemic in Australia: investigating the role of trust in federal and state governments and scientists |
| title_short | Compliance with COVID-19 prevention measures during the onset of the pandemic in Australia: investigating the role of trust in federal and state governments and scientists |
| title_sort | compliance with covid 19 prevention measures during the onset of the pandemic in australia investigating the role of trust in federal and state governments and scientists |
| topic | australia compliance covid-19 government scientists trust |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2023.2224453 |
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