Exploring the influence of behavioural, normative and control beliefs on intentions to adhere to public health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview based study

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dc.contributor.authorParsons Leigh, Jeanna
dc.contributor.authorMoss, Stephana J.
dc.contributor.authorMizen, Sara J.
dc.contributor.authorFitzGerald, Emily A.
dc.contributor.authorBrundin-Mather, Rebecca
dc.contributor.authorde Grood, Chloe
dc.contributor.authorDodds, Alexandra
dc.contributor.authorStelfox, Henry T.
dc.contributor.authorFiest, Kirsten M.
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-12T01:03:24Z
dc.date.available2023-03-12T01:03:24Z
dc.date.issued2023-03-10
dc.date.updated2023-03-12T01:03:24Z
dc.description.abstractAbstract Background Perceived severity and susceptibility of disease are predictors of individual behaviour during health crises. Little is known about how individual beliefs influence intentions to adhere to public health guidelines during periods of health crises, and how access to and consumption of information influence these intentions. This study investigated behavioural beliefs, normative beliefs, and control beliefs, and their influence on behavioural intentions to adhere to public health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Participants were recruited from a related COVID-19 study conducted by our team, and through snowball sampling in subsequent. Using a maximum variation sampling technique, we recruited a diverse group of participants representing six major regions in Canada. Participants took part in one-on-one semi-structured interviews from February 2021 to May 2021. Data were analyzed independently in duplicate by thematic analysis. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was the conceptual framework used to organize dominant themes. Results We conducted a total of 60 individual interviews (137 eligible individuals contacted, 43.8% response rate) and identified six themes organized according to the three constructs of behavioural, normative and control beliefs as described in the TPB: (1) Behavioural: My “New Normal,” Individual Rights and Perceived Pandemic Severity, Fatigue with COVID-19, (2) Normative: COVID-19 Collective, (3) Control: Practicality of Public Health Guidelines, and (6) Conflicting Public Health Messages. Most (n = 43, 71.7%) participants perceived individuals in their geographic community to be following public health guidelines adequately. Several participants (n = 15, 25.0%) commented on the unequal impact of restrictions based on socioeconomic factors (i.e., class, race, age). Conclusion Individual perceptions of risk, loss of control, access to resources (i.e., childcare), and societal expectations, shaped intentions to engage in disease preventative behaviours (i.e., social distancing) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
dc.identifier.citationBMC Public Health. 2023 Mar 10;23(1):464
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15344-0
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/115912
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/45984
dc.language.rfc3066en
dc.rights.holderThe Author(s)
dc.titleExploring the influence of behavioural, normative and control beliefs on intentions to adhere to public health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview based study
dc.typeJournal Article
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