Elsevier

Vaccine

Volume 41, Issue 27, 19 June 2023, Pages 4019-4026
Vaccine

Cognitive predictors of COVID-19 mitigation behaviors in vaccinated and unvaccinated general population members

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.10.004Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Hypothesized that cognitive factors would predict COVID-19 mitigation behaviors.

  • Cognitive factors were significant predictors of most mitigation behaviors.

  • Associations were of similar magnitude across vaccinated and unvaccinated.

Abstract

Background

Given the long-term threat posed by COVID-19, predictors of mitigation behaviors are critical to identify. Prior studies have found that cognitive factors are associated with some COVID-19 mitigation behaviors, but few studies employ representative samples and no prior studies have examined cognitive predictors of vaccination status. The purpose of the present study was to examine associations between cognitive variables (executive function, delay discounting, and future orientation) and COVID-19 mitigation behaviors (mask wearing, social distancing, hand hygiene and vaccination) in a population representative sample.

Methods

A population representative sample of 2,002 adults completed validated measures of delay discounting, future orientation, and executive function. Participants also reported frequency of mitigation behaviors, vaccination status, and demographics.

Results

Future orientation was associated with more mask wearing (β = 0.160, 95 % CI [0.090, 0.220], p < 0.001), social distancing (β = 0.150, 95 % CI [0.070, 0.240], p < 0.001), hand hygiene behaviors (β = 0.090, 95 % CI [0.000, 0.190], p = 0.054), and a higher likelihood of being fully vaccinated (OR = 0.80, 95 % CI [0.670, 0.970], p = 0.020). Lower delay discounting predicted more consistent mask wearing (β = −0.060, 95 % CI[−0.120, −0.010], p = 0.032) and being fully vaccinated (OR = 1.28, 95 % CI [1.13, 1.44], p < 0.001), while more symptoms of executive dysfunction predicted less mask wearing (β = −0.240, 95 % CI [−0.320, −0.150] p < 0.001) and hand hygiene (β = −0.220, 95 % CI [−0.320, −0.130], p < 0.001), but not vaccination status (OR = 0.96, 95 % CI [0.80, 1.16], p = 0.690) or social distancing behaviors (β = −0.080, 95 % CI [−0.180, 0.020], p = 0.097). Overall, social distancing was the least well-predicted outcome from cognitive factors, while mask wearing was most well-predicted. Vaccination status was not a significant moderator of these effects of cognitive predictors on mitigation behaviors.

Conclusions

Cognitive variables predict significant variability in mitigation behaviors. regardless of vaccination status. In particular, thinking about the future and discounting it less may encourage more consistent implementation of mitigating behaviors.

Keywords

COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
Mitigating behaviors
Executive functions
Vaccination

Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

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