Changes in risk perception and self-reported protective behaviour during the first week of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States

Efforts to change behaviour are critical in minimizing the spread of highly transmissible pandemics such as COVID-19. However, it is unclear whether individuals are aware of disease risk and alter their behaviour early in the pandemic. We investigated risk perception and self-reported engagement in protective behaviours in 1591 United States-based individuals cross-sectionally and longitudinally over the first week of the pandemic. Subjects demonstrated growing awareness of risk and reported engaging in protective behaviours with increasing frequency but underestimated their risk of infection relative to the average person in the country. Social distancing and hand washing were most strongly predicted by the…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: 1911441
• JT
  John Templeton Foundation

  Award: TWCF0366
• WT
  Wellcome Trust

  Award: 206460/17/Z
• TW
  Templeton World Charity Foundation
• NI
  National Institute of Mental Health

  Awards: 2P50MH094258, P2026052