1148889_Asimakopoulou,K_2020.pdf (756.09 kB)
Download fileComparative optimism about infection and recovery from COVID-19; Implications for adherence with lockdown advice
journal contribution
posted on 2021-03-31, 00:40 authored by K Asimakopoulou, V Hoorens, E Speed, NS Coulson, D Antoniszczak, F Collyer, E Deschrijver, L Dubbin, D Faulks, R Forsyth, V Goltsi, I Harsløf, K Larsen, I Manaras, D Olczak-Kowalczyk, Karen WillisKaren Willis, T Xenou, S Scambler© 2020 The Authors Health Expectations published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd Background: Comparative optimism, the belief that negative events are more likely to happen to others rather than to oneself, is well established in health risk research. It is unknown, however, whether comparative optimism also permeates people’s health expectations and potentially behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: Data were collected through an international survey (N = 6485) exploring people’s thoughts and psychosocial behaviours relating to COVID-19. This paper reports UK data on comparative optimism. In particular, we examine the belief that negative events surrounding risk and recovery from COVID-19 are perceived as more likely to happen to others rather than to oneself. Methods: Using online snowball sampling through social media, anonymous UK survey data were collected from N = 645 adults during weeks 5-8 of the UK COVID-19 lockdown. The sample was normally distributed in terms of age and reflected the UK ethnic and disability profile. Findings: Respondents demonstrated comparative optimism where they believed that as compared to others of the same age and gender, they were unlikely to experience a range of controllable (eg accidentally infect/ be infected) and uncontrollable (eg need hospitalization/ intensive care treatment if infected) COVID-19-related risks in the short term (P <.001). They were comparatively pessimistic (ie thinking they were more at risk than others for developing COVID-19-related infection or symptoms) when thinking about the next year. Discussion: This is one of the first ever studies to report compelling comparative biases in UK adults’ thinking about COVID-19.
History
Publication Date
2020-12-01Journal
Health ExpectationsVolume
23Issue
6Pagination
10p. (p. 1502-1511)Publisher
WileyISSN
1369-6513Rights Statement
The Author reserves all moral rights over the deposited text and must be credited if any re-use occurs. Documents deposited in OPAL are the Open Access versions of outputs published elsewhere. Changes resulting from the publishing process may therefore not be reflected in this document. The final published version may be obtained via the publisher’s DOI. Please note that additional copyright and access restrictions may apply to the published version.Publisher DOI
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Keywords
Science & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineHealth Care Sciences & ServicesHealth Policy & ServicesPublic, Environmental & Occupational Healthcomparative optimismCOVID-19lockdownrisk perceptionsunrealistic optimismPERCEIVED CONTROLRISKINFORMATIONILLUSIONEVENTBIASHumansRisk AssessmentCross-Sectional StudiesCommunicable Disease ControlQuarantineAdultAgedAged, 80 and overMiddle AgedFemaleMaleYoung AdultSurveys and QuestionnairesOptimismUnited KingdomPublic Health