Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Department of Psychiatry, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 12;10:977857. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.977857. eCollection 2022.
Governments and public health authorities across many jurisdictions implemented social (physical) distancing measures to contain the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Adherence to these measures is variable and likely influenced by various factors. This study aimed to 1) identify the individual sociodemographic, COVID-19 and social distancing related, and psychological determinants of social distancing adherence, and 2) explore regional differences in social distancing adherence in the United States (U.S.) and English-speaking Canada based on each region's discrepant response to social distancing restrictions.
A web-based repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted in 4,942 English-speaking participants from the four most populous U.S. states, specifically New York, California, Texas, and Florida, and Canada (www.covid19-database.com). The study was conducted at two timepoints, from May 1 to 5, 2020 ( = 1,019, Canadian participants only) and from July 6 to 10, 2020 ( = 3,923). Separate univariate models were computed for individual sociodemographic, COVID-19 and social distancing related, and psychological determinants of social distancing adherence. To determine the total variance explained, a univariate analysis including all of the determinants was performed. Regional differences in social distancing were compared between the four U.S. states and Canada, and between the U.S. as a whole and Canada.
Adherence to social distancing was higher in May (mean = 4.4/5.0±0.7) compared to July (mean = 4.3/5.0±0.7) [ = 6.96, < 0.001], likely a reflection of relaxing restrictions. There were no regional differences in adherence. Sociodemographic, COVID-19 and social distancing related, and psychological determinants explained 10, 36, and 23% of the variance of social distancing adherence, respectively. Higher perceived seriousness of COVID-19 [β (SE) = 0.39 (0.01), < 0.001, partial η = 0.22], lower risk propensity [β (SE) = -0.15 (0.01), < 0.001, partial η = 0.06], germ aversion [β (SE) = 0.12 (0.01), < 0.001, partial η = 0.03], age [β (SE) = 0.01 (0.00), < 0.001, partial η = 0.02], and greater social support [β (SE) = 0.03 (0.00), < 0.001, partial η = 0.02] had the largest effects on social distancing adherence.
Public service initiatives to emphasize the serious consequences of infection and targeted interventions toward certain sociodemographic groups, such as younger adults and vulnerable individuals in greater need of social support, may help enhance the public's adherence to social distancing measures during subsequent waves of COVID-19 and future pandemics.
为了控制 2019 年新型冠状病毒病（COVID-19）的传播，许多司法管辖区的政府和公共卫生当局都实施了社会（物理）距离措施。对这些措施的遵守情况各不相同，可能受到各种因素的影响。本研究旨在：1）确定个人社会人口统计学、COVID-19 和与社会距离相关的以及心理决定因素对社会距离遵守的影响，以及 2）根据每个地区对社会距离限制的不同反应，探讨美国（美国）和英语国家加拿大的社会距离遵守情况的区域差异。
对来自美国四个人口最多的州（纽约州、加利福尼亚州、得克萨斯州和佛罗里达州）和加拿大（www.covid19-database.com）的 4942 名讲英语的参与者进行了基于网络的重复横断面调查。该研究分两个时间点进行，从 2020 年 5 月 1 日至 5 日（=1019，仅限加拿大参与者）和 2020 年 7 月 6 日至 10 日（=3923）。为了确定社会距离遵守的个体社会人口统计学、COVID-19 和与社会距离相关的以及心理决定因素，分别计算了单变量模型。为了确定总方差的解释，进行了包括所有决定因素的单变量分析。比较了美国四个州和加拿大以及美国和加拿大之间的社会距离区域差异。
与 7 月（平均=4.3/5.0±0.7）相比，5 月（平均=4.4/5.0±0.7）[=6.96，<0.001]的社会距离遵守率更高，这可能反映了限制措施的放宽。遵守情况没有区域差异。社会人口统计学、COVID-19 和与社会距离相关的以及心理决定因素分别解释了社会距离遵守的 10%、36%和 23%的方差。更高的 COVID-19 严重程度感知[β（SE）=0.39（0.01），<0.001，部分η=0.22]、较低的风险倾向[β（SE）=-0.15（0.01），<0.001，部分η=0.06]、厌恶细菌[β（SE）=0.12（0.01），<0.001，部分η=0.03]、年龄[β（SE）=0.01（0.00），<0.001，部分η=0.02]和更大的社会支持[β（SE）=0.03（0.00），<0.001，部分η=0.02]对社会距离遵守的影响最大。
公共服务倡议强调感染的严重后果，并针对某些社会人口统计学群体（如年轻成年人和更需要社会支持的弱势群体）进行有针对性的干预，可能有助于增强公众在 COVID-19 和未来大流行的后续浪潮中对社会距离措施的遵守。
