AUTHOR=Mahdavian Farnaz , Warren George W. , Evensen Darrick , Bouder Frederic E. 

TITLE=The Relationship Between Barriers and Drivers of COVID-19 Protective Behaviors in Germany and the UK

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=67

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604970

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604970

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> To explore and evaluate the impact of factors including public risk perceptions on COVID-19 protective behaviors across the UK and Germany.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We used survey data collected from a representative sample for Germany and the UK (total N = 1,663) between April and May 2021. Using a Structural Equation Model, we evaluate the role of personal health risk perceptions, official message quality, source of news, age and political orientation on COVID-19 protective behaviors in the context of German and UK risk communication strategies.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Personal health risk perceptions had a significant positive influence on protective behaviors. Economic risk perceptions had a negative direct influence on protective behaviors, particularly in Germany, as well as a positive indirect influence. Official message quality, use of official news sources and age had positive impacts on risk perceptions and protective behaviors. Left-wing political orientation was linked to greater likelihood of undertaking protective behaviors.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> For future pandemics, more attention should be paid to evaluating and conceptualizing different varieties of risk perceptions, risk communication strategies, and demographic variables alongside their impacts on undertaking protective behaviors.</p>