National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic

Van Bavel, Jay J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2520-0442, Cichocka, Aleksandra ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1703-1586, Capraro, Valerio ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0579-0166, Sjåstad, Hallgeir ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8730-1038, Nezlek, John B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4963-3637, Pavlović, Tomislav ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4470-3715, Alfano, Mark ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5879-8033, Gelfand, Michele J., Azevedo, Flavio ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9000-8513, Birtel, Michèle D., Cislak, Aleksandra ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9880-6947, Lockwood, Patricia L. 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M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7774-6984, van Prooijen, Jan-Willem ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6236-0819, van Rooy, Dirk, Västfjäll, Daniel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2873-4500, Verkoeijen, Peter, Vieira, Joana B., von Sikorski, Christian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3787-8277, Walker, Alexander Cameron ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1431-6770, Watermeyer, Jennifer ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7918-8832, Wetter, Erik, Whillans, Ashley ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1726-6978, Willardt, Robin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2495-3450, Wohl, Michael J. A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6945-5562, Wójcik, Adrian Dominik ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7073-6019, Wu, Kaidi ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6881-7437, Yamada, Yuki ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1431-568X, Yilmaz, Onurcan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6094-7162, Yogeeswaran, Kumar, Ziemer, Carolin-Theresa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0794-7702, Zwaan, Rolf A. and Boggio, Paulo S. (2022) National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic. Nature Communications, 13 (1) , 517. pp. 1-14. ISSN 2041-1723 [Article] (doi:10.1038/s41467-021-27668-9)

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Abstract

Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = −0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics.

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