The mechanism of governments' and individuals' influence on protective behaviours during the second wave of COVID-19: a multiple mediation model

Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2022 Nov 1;13(2):1-12. doi: 10.1080/20008066.2022.2135196. eCollection 2022.

Abstract
in English, Spanish, Chinese

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to spread and resurge globally with signs of a second wave, despite actions by governments to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. However, evidence-based strategies to combat COVID-19 recurrence are poorly documented. Objective: To reveal how governments and individuals should act to effectively cope with future waves, this study proposed a preventive model of COVID-19 resurgence. Method: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 1,137 residents of Beijing, where the epidemic reoccurred. Structural equation model was used to explore the mechanism among government intervention, perceived efficacy, positive emotions, posttraumatic growth (PTG) and protective behaviours. Results: Data analysis revealed that during COVID-19 resurgence, government intervention could directly and indirectly influence protective behaviours through individual factors (i.e. perceived efficacy, positive emotions), and PTG could mediate the indirect pathway to protective behaviours. Conclusions: These findings implied that government intervention needs to be integrated with individual factors to effectively control repeated COVID-19 outbreaks.

Antecedentes: El virus SARS-CoV-2 continúa propagándose y resurgiendo a nivel mundial con signos de una segunda ola, a pesar de las acciones de los gobiernos para frenar la pandemia de COVID-19. Sin embargo, las estrategias basadas en evidencia para combatir la recurrencia de COVID-19 están pobremente documentadas.Objetivo: Para revelar cómo deben actuar los gobiernos y las personas para hacer frente de manera efectiva a futuras olas, este estudio propuso un modelo preventivo del resurgimiento de COVID-19.Método: Se realizó una encuesta entre 1.137 residentes de Beijing, donde la epidemia volvió a ocurrir. Se utilizó un modelo de ecuación estructural para explorar el mecanismo entre la intervención del gobierno, la eficacia percibida, las emociones positivas, el crecimiento postraumático (CPT) y las conductas protectoras.Resultados: El análisis de datos reveló que durante el resurgimiento de COVID-19, la intervención del gobierno podría influir directa e indirectamente en los comportamientos de protección a través de factores individuales (es decir, eficacia percibida, emociones positivas), y CPT podría mediar en el camino indirecto hacia los comportamientos de protección.Conclusiones: Estos hallazgos implicaron que la intervención del gobierno debe integrarse con factores individuales para controlar de manera efectiva los brotes repetidos de COVID-19.

背景：尽管各国政府采取了遏制 COVID-19 疫情的行动，SARS-CoV-2 病毒继续在全球范围内传播和重新流行，并出现第二波疫情的迹象。然而，抗击 COVID-19 复发的循证策略却鲜有记载。目的：为了揭示政府和个人应如何有效应对未来疫情，本研究提出了一种 COVID-19 复发的预防模型。方法：对疫情再次发生的北京市1137名居民进行问卷调查。采用结构方程模型探讨政府干预、感知效能、积极情绪、创伤后成长（PTG）和保护行为之间的作用机制。结果：数据分析显示，在 COVID-19 复发期间，政府干预可以通过个体因素（即感知效能、积极情绪）直接和间接影响保护行为，而 PTG 可以调节保护行为的间接途径。结论：这些发现表明，政府干预需要与个体因素相结合，以有效控制 COVID-19 的反复爆发。.

Keywords: COVID-19; government intervention; perceived efficacy; positive emotions; posttraumatic growth; protective behaviours; recurrence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Government
  • Humans
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • SARS-CoV-2

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers 31571161, 31200782, 31971027], Key project of Beijing Education Science Planning, Reevaluation and cognitive training to treat College students with Internet addiction [grant number BEAA21046] and Tianjin University Ideological and Political Education Research Base [grant number SYJD202107].