Determinants of COVID-19 safety behaviors: Implications for preventive policy

Sadiq Hussain; Sabih Ahmad

Abstract
Objective: To identify the predictors of COVID-19 safety behaviors (hand washing, physical distancing, & wearing masks), in Pakistan.
Methodology: This correlational study was conducted at Karakoram International University, Gilgit and Combined Military Hospital, Kharian from November 2020 to April 2021. We used newly developed COVID-19 Safety Behaviors Scale-Urdu, COVID-19 Anxiety Scale-Urdu, COVID-19 Knowledge Scale-Urdu, and a brief version of the Big Five Personality Inventory, on 911 participants (395 women).
Results: COVID-19 related anxiety (β = 0.02, p<0.05) and the personality trait ‘conscientiousness’ (β=0.02, p<0.01) significantly moderated the positive relationship between COVID-19 knowledge and COVID-19 safety behaviors. This implies that people with a dominant personality trait of ‘conscientiousness’ were actively seeking COVID-19 related knowledge that led to higher levels of preventive behaviors.
Conclusion: To control the current pandemic and associated negative consequences through ‘safety behaviors’ it is important to educate people while keeping the demographic variables in view.

Key words: COVID-19 anxiety, COVID-19 knowledge, personality traits, COVID-19 safety behaviors, Pakistan.

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