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Risk compensation during COVID-19 : the impact of face mask usage on social distancing
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Luckman, Ashley, Zeitoun, Hossam, Isoni, Andrea, Loomes, Graham, Vlaev, Ivo, Powdthavee, Nattavudh and Read, Daniel (2021) Risk compensation during COVID-19 : the impact of face mask usage on social distancing. Journal of Experimental Psychology : Applied, 27 (4). pp. 722-738. doi:10.1037/xap0000382
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/xap0000382
Abstract
To reduce the spread of Covid-19, governments around the world have recommended or required minimum physical distancing between individuals, as well as either mandating or recommending the use of face coverings (masks) in certain circumstances. When multiple risk reduction activities can be adopted, people may engage in risk compensation by responding to a reduced (perceived) risk exposure due to one activity by increasing risk exposure due to another. We tested for risk compensation in two online experiments that investigated whether either wearing a mask or seeing others wearing masks reduced physical distancing. We presented participants with stylized images of everyday scenarios involving themselves with or without a mask and a stranger with or without a mask. For each scenario, participants indicated the minimum distance they would keep from the stranger. In line with risk compensation, we found that participants indicated they would stand, sit or walk closer to the stranger if either of them was wearing a mask. This form of risk compensation was stronger for those who believed masks were effective at preventing catching or spreading Covid-19, and for younger (18-40 years) compared to older (over 65 years) participants.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||
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| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HM Sociology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine |
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| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Behavioural Science Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School |
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| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | COVID-19 (Disease) -- Social aspects, COVID-19 (Disease) -- Psychological aspects, Risk-taking (Psychology), Social distancing (Public health), Decision making, Masks -- Health aspects | ||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Experimental Psychology : Applied | ||||||
| Publisher: | American Psychological Association | ||||||
| ISSN: | 1076-898X | ||||||
| Official Date: | 2021 | ||||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | 27 | ||||||
| Number: | 4 | ||||||
| Page Range: | pp. 722-738 | ||||||
| DOI: | 10.1037/xap0000382 | ||||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||||
| Reuse Statement (publisher, data, author rights): | American Psychological Association. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the final, authoritative version of the article. Please do not copy or cite without authors' permission. The final article will be available, upon publication, via its DOI: 10.1037/xap0000382 | ||||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||||
| Description: | Free to read |
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| RIOXX Funder/Project Grant: |
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