Social values, self- and collective efficacy explaining behaviours in coping with Covid-19: Self-interested consumption and physical distancing in the first 10 days of confinement in Spain

Abstract

The appearance of a new coronavirus (Covid-19) and its rapid expansion throughout theworld has forced all countries to establish regulations based on social confinement. In theearly days of a pandemic, the adherence to regulations is crucial to be able to block itsspread. This research aims to analyse the relationship between motivational variables asso-ciated with physical distancing and self-interested consumption behaviours in the first 10days of confinement in Spain. A total of 1,324 people participated throughout the country(mean age 28.92 years). Participants answered an online survey about socio-demographic,motivational variables, which included a) risk information seeking, b) confidence in self-and collective efficacy in coping with the pandemic, and c) the four higher-order personalvalues –conservation (security, conformity, and tradition), self-transcendence (universalismand benevolence), openness (self-direction actions and stimulation), and self-improvement(hedonism and power) – and the aforementioned behaviours in coping with Covid-19.Results showed a positive association between self- and collective efficacy and both copingbehaviours analysed: a protective role of conservation values on normative behaviours; anda negative relationship between self-transcendence values and self-interested consump-tion. Additionally, risk information seeking was positively associated with the developmentof physical distancing behaviour.