Attachment, Personality and Locus of Control: Psychological Determinants of Risk Perception and Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19
Background: The understanding of factors that shape risk perception is crucial to modulate the perceived threat and, in turn, to promote optimal engagement in preventive actions.Methods: An on-line, cross-sectional, survey was conducted in Italy between May and July 2020 to investigate risk percepti...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.634012/full |
| _version_ | 1831634691333029888 |
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| author | Sofia Tagini Agostino Brugnera Roberta Ferrucci Roberta Ferrucci Roberta Ferrucci Ketti Mazzocco Ketti Mazzocco Luca Pievani Alberto Priori Alberto Priori Nicola Ticozzi Nicola Ticozzi Angelo Compare Vincenzo Silani Vincenzo Silani Gabriella Pravettoni Gabriella Pravettoni Barbara Poletti |
| author_facet | Sofia Tagini Agostino Brugnera Roberta Ferrucci Roberta Ferrucci Roberta Ferrucci Ketti Mazzocco Ketti Mazzocco Luca Pievani Alberto Priori Alberto Priori Nicola Ticozzi Nicola Ticozzi Angelo Compare Vincenzo Silani Vincenzo Silani Gabriella Pravettoni Gabriella Pravettoni Barbara Poletti |
| author_sort | Sofia Tagini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The understanding of factors that shape risk perception is crucial to modulate the perceived threat and, in turn, to promote optimal engagement in preventive actions.Methods: An on-line, cross-sectional, survey was conducted in Italy between May and July 2020 to investigate risk perception for COVID-19 and the adoption of preventive measures. A total of 964 volunteers participated in the study. Possible predictors of risk perception were identified through a hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, including sociodemographic, epidemiological and, most of all, psychological factors. A path analysis was adopted to probe the possible mediating role of risk perception on the relationship between the independent variables considered and the adoption of preventive measures.Results: Focusing on the psychological predictors of risk perception, high levels of anxiety, an anxious attachment, and an external locus of control predicted higher perceived risk. Conversely, high levels of openness personality and of avoidant attachment predicted a lower perception of risk. In turn, the higher was the perceived risk the higher was the adoption of precautionary measures. Furthermore, psychological factors influenced the adoption of preventive behaviors both directly and indirectly through their effect on risk perception.Conclusions: Our findings might be taken into high consideration by stakeholders, who are responsible for promoting a truthful perception of risk and proper compliance with precautionary measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:59:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98589eedd7ec4bf5ac2b48ee189bd05d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:59:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-98589eedd7ec4bf5ac2b48ee189bd05d2022-12-21T20:33:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782021-07-011210.3389/fpsyg.2021.634012634012Attachment, Personality and Locus of Control: Psychological Determinants of Risk Perception and Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19Sofia Tagini0Agostino Brugnera1Roberta Ferrucci2Roberta Ferrucci3Roberta Ferrucci4Ketti Mazzocco5Ketti Mazzocco6Luca Pievani7Alberto Priori8Alberto Priori9Nicola Ticozzi10Nicola Ticozzi11Angelo Compare12Vincenzo Silani13Vincenzo Silani14Gabriella Pravettoni15Gabriella Pravettoni16Barbara Poletti17Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDepartment of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, International Medical School, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyNeurology Clinic III, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, ItalyIstituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ca' Granda Foundation Maggiore Policlinico Hospital, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyEuropean Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, International Medical School, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyNeurology Clinic III, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, ItalyDepartment of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyDepartment of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyEuropean Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, ItalyBackground: The understanding of factors that shape risk perception is crucial to modulate the perceived threat and, in turn, to promote optimal engagement in preventive actions.Methods: An on-line, cross-sectional, survey was conducted in Italy between May and July 2020 to investigate risk perception for COVID-19 and the adoption of preventive measures. A total of 964 volunteers participated in the study. Possible predictors of risk perception were identified through a hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, including sociodemographic, epidemiological and, most of all, psychological factors. A path analysis was adopted to probe the possible mediating role of risk perception on the relationship between the independent variables considered and the adoption of preventive measures.Results: Focusing on the psychological predictors of risk perception, high levels of anxiety, an anxious attachment, and an external locus of control predicted higher perceived risk. Conversely, high levels of openness personality and of avoidant attachment predicted a lower perception of risk. In turn, the higher was the perceived risk the higher was the adoption of precautionary measures. Furthermore, psychological factors influenced the adoption of preventive behaviors both directly and indirectly through their effect on risk perception.Conclusions: Our findings might be taken into high consideration by stakeholders, who are responsible for promoting a truthful perception of risk and proper compliance with precautionary measures.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.634012/fullCOVID-19risk perceptionpreventive behaviorspsychological determinantspandemic management |
| spellingShingle | Sofia Tagini Agostino Brugnera Roberta Ferrucci Roberta Ferrucci Roberta Ferrucci Ketti Mazzocco Ketti Mazzocco Luca Pievani Alberto Priori Alberto Priori Nicola Ticozzi Nicola Ticozzi Angelo Compare Vincenzo Silani Vincenzo Silani Gabriella Pravettoni Gabriella Pravettoni Barbara Poletti Attachment, Personality and Locus of Control: Psychological Determinants of Risk Perception and Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 Frontiers in Psychology COVID-19 risk perception preventive behaviors psychological determinants pandemic management |
| title | Attachment, Personality and Locus of Control: Psychological Determinants of Risk Perception and Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 |
| title_full | Attachment, Personality and Locus of Control: Psychological Determinants of Risk Perception and Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | Attachment, Personality and Locus of Control: Psychological Determinants of Risk Perception and Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attachment, Personality and Locus of Control: Psychological Determinants of Risk Perception and Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 |
| title_short | Attachment, Personality and Locus of Control: Psychological Determinants of Risk Perception and Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 |
| title_sort | attachment personality and locus of control psychological determinants of risk perception and preventive behaviors for covid 19 |
| topic | COVID-19 risk perception preventive behaviors psychological determinants pandemic management |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.634012/full |
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