School of Health, Medical, and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia.
Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK.
Psychol Health. 2022 Dec;37(12):1626-1645. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2022.2097682. Epub 2022 Jul 27.
The COVID-19 pandemic saw promotion of novel virus transmission-reduction behaviours, and discouragement of familiar transmission-conducive behaviours. Understanding changes in the automatic nature of such behaviours is important, because habitual behaviours may be more easily reactivated in future outbreaks and disrupting old habits may discontinue unwanted behaviours.
A repeated-measures, multi-national design tracked virus-transmission habits and behaviour fortnightly over six months (Apr-Sept 2020) among 517 participants (age = 42 ± 16y, 79% female).
Within-participant habit trajectories across all timepoints, and engagement in transmission-reduction behaviours (handwashing when entering home; handwashing with soap for 20 seconds; physical distancing) and transmission-conducive behaviours (coughing/sneezing into hands; making physical contact) summed over the final two timepoints.
Three habit trajectory types were observed. Habits that remained strong ('stable strong habit') and habits that strengthened ('habit formation') were most common for transmission-reduction behaviours. Erosion of initially strong habits ('habit degradation') was most common for transmission-conducive behaviours. Regression analyses showed 'habit formation' and 'stable strong habit' trajectories were associated with greater behavioural engagement at later timepoints.
Participants typically maintained or formed transmission-reduction habits, which encouraged later performance, and degraded transmission-conducive habits, which decreased performance. Findings suggest COVID-19-preventive habits may be recoverable in future virus outbreaks.
新冠疫情期间，人们倡导新型病毒传播减少行为，同时劝阻熟悉的易传播行为。了解这些行为的自动性质的变化很重要，因为习惯性行为在未来的疫情爆发中可能更容易被重新激活，而打破旧习惯可能会停止不必要的行为。
一项重复测量、多国家设计，在六个月（2020 年 4 月至 9 月）期间，每两周跟踪 517 名参与者（年龄=42±16 岁，79%为女性）的病毒传播习惯和行为。
所有时间点的个体内习惯轨迹，以及在最后两个时间点汇总的病毒传播减少行为（进入家时洗手；用肥皂洗手 20 秒；保持身体距离）和易传播行为（咳嗽/打喷嚏时用手；身体接触）的参与情况。
观察到三种习惯轨迹类型。对于病毒传播减少行为，习惯保持强劲（“稳定强习惯”）和习惯增强（“习惯形成”）最为常见。最初强劲的习惯逐渐减弱（“习惯退化”）对于易传播行为最为常见。回归分析表明，“习惯形成”和“稳定强习惯”轨迹与后续时间点的更大行为参与度相关。
参与者通常保持或形成病毒传播减少习惯，这鼓励了后续的行为表现，而削弱了易传播习惯，从而减少了行为表现。研究结果表明，在未来的病毒爆发中，新冠预防习惯可能是可恢复的。
