Does pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study.
Abstract Background Engagement in protective behaviours relating to the COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed to be key to infection control. This is particularly the case for youths as key drivers of infections. A range of factors influencing adherence have been identified, including impulsivity and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15310-w |
| _version_ | 1827982462937989120 |
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| author | Katharina Haag Stefani Du Toit Nace Mikus Sarah Skeen Kathryn Steventon Roberts Marguerite Marlow Vuyolwethu Notholi Akhona Sambudla Yeukai Chideya Lorraine Sherr Mark Tomlinson |
| author_facet | Katharina Haag Stefani Du Toit Nace Mikus Sarah Skeen Kathryn Steventon Roberts Marguerite Marlow Vuyolwethu Notholi Akhona Sambudla Yeukai Chideya Lorraine Sherr Mark Tomlinson |
| author_sort | Katharina Haag |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Engagement in protective behaviours relating to the COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed to be key to infection control. This is particularly the case for youths as key drivers of infections. A range of factors influencing adherence have been identified, including impulsivity and risk taking. We assessed the association between pre-COVID impulsivity levels and engagement in preventative measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in a longitudinal South African sample, in order to inform future pandemic planning. Methods Data were collected from N = 214 youths (mean age at baseline: M = 17.81 (SD = .71), 55.6% female) living in a South African peri-urban settlement characterised by high poverty and deprivation. Baseline assessments were taken in 2018/19 and the COVID follow-up was conducted in June–October 2020 via remote data collection. Impulsivity was assessed using the Balloon Analogue Task (BART), while hygiene and social distancing behaviours were captured through self-report. Stepwise hierarchical regression analyses were performed to estimate effects of impulsivity on measure adherence. Results Self-rated engagement in hygiene behaviours was high (67.1–86.1% “most of the time”, except for “coughing/sneezing into one’s elbow” at 33.3%), while engagement in social distancing behaviours varied (22.4–57.8% “most of the time”). Higher impulsivity predicted lower levels of hygiene (β = .14, p = .041) but not social distancing behaviours (β = −.02, p = .82). This association was retained when controlling for a range of demographic and COVID-related factors (β = .14, p = .047) and was slightly reduced when including the effects of a life-skills interventions on hygiene behaviour (β = −.13, p = .073). Conclusions Our data indicate that impulsivity may predict adolescent engagement in hygiene behaviours post COVID-19 pandemic onset in a high risk, sub-Saharan African setting, albeit with a small effect size. For future pandemics, it is important to understand predictors of engagement, particularly in the context of adversity, where adherence may be challenging. Limitations include a small sample size and potential measure shortcomings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:34:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f119d87f11484589b6aa7d9a1134c94a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:34:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f119d87f11484589b6aa7d9a1134c94a2023-03-22T12:37:08ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-03-0123111210.1186/s12889-023-15310-wDoes pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study.Katharina Haag0Stefani Du Toit1Nace Mikus2Sarah Skeen3Kathryn Steventon Roberts4Marguerite Marlow5Vuyolwethu Notholi6Akhona Sambudla7Yeukai Chideya8Lorraine Sherr9Mark Tomlinson10Institute for Global Health, University College LondonInstitute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch UniversityDepartment of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of ViennaInstitute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch UniversityInstitute for Global Health, University College LondonInstitute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch UniversityInstitute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch UniversityInstitute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch UniversityInstitute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch UniversityInstitute for Global Health, University College LondonInstitute for Life Course Health Research, Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch UniversityAbstract Background Engagement in protective behaviours relating to the COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed to be key to infection control. This is particularly the case for youths as key drivers of infections. A range of factors influencing adherence have been identified, including impulsivity and risk taking. We assessed the association between pre-COVID impulsivity levels and engagement in preventative measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in a longitudinal South African sample, in order to inform future pandemic planning. Methods Data were collected from N = 214 youths (mean age at baseline: M = 17.81 (SD = .71), 55.6% female) living in a South African peri-urban settlement characterised by high poverty and deprivation. Baseline assessments were taken in 2018/19 and the COVID follow-up was conducted in June–October 2020 via remote data collection. Impulsivity was assessed using the Balloon Analogue Task (BART), while hygiene and social distancing behaviours were captured through self-report. Stepwise hierarchical regression analyses were performed to estimate effects of impulsivity on measure adherence. Results Self-rated engagement in hygiene behaviours was high (67.1–86.1% “most of the time”, except for “coughing/sneezing into one’s elbow” at 33.3%), while engagement in social distancing behaviours varied (22.4–57.8% “most of the time”). Higher impulsivity predicted lower levels of hygiene (β = .14, p = .041) but not social distancing behaviours (β = −.02, p = .82). This association was retained when controlling for a range of demographic and COVID-related factors (β = .14, p = .047) and was slightly reduced when including the effects of a life-skills interventions on hygiene behaviour (β = −.13, p = .073). Conclusions Our data indicate that impulsivity may predict adolescent engagement in hygiene behaviours post COVID-19 pandemic onset in a high risk, sub-Saharan African setting, albeit with a small effect size. For future pandemics, it is important to understand predictors of engagement, particularly in the context of adversity, where adherence may be challenging. Limitations include a small sample size and potential measure shortcomings.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15310-wCOVIDImpulsivityAdolescenceLMICLongitudinal |
| spellingShingle | Katharina Haag Stefani Du Toit Nace Mikus Sarah Skeen Kathryn Steventon Roberts Marguerite Marlow Vuyolwethu Notholi Akhona Sambudla Yeukai Chideya Lorraine Sherr Mark Tomlinson Does pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study. BMC Public Health COVID Impulsivity Adolescence LMIC Longitudinal |
| title | Does pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study. |
| title_full | Does pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study. |
| title_fullStr | Does pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study. |
| title_short | Does pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study. |
| title_sort | does pre covid impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the covid 19 pandemic onset evidence from a south african longitudinal study |
| topic | COVID Impulsivity Adolescence LMIC Longitudinal |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15310-w |
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