Predictors of Social Distancing and Mask-Wearing Behavior: Panel Survey in Seven U.S. States

TL;DR

This study identifies key demographic and psychological factors influencing social distancing and mask-wearing behaviors during COVID-19, highlighting targets for policy interventions to improve public health compliance.

Contribution

It provides novel insights into how demographic and cognitive biases predict social distancing and mask-wearing, informing targeted policy strategies.

Findings

Demographic characteristics significantly influence protective behaviors.

Risk perception and cognitive biases critically affect social distancing decisions.

Certain demographic groups are more susceptible to behavior change.

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary summary results from a longitudinal study of participants in seven U.S. states during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to standard socio-economic characteristics, we collect data on various economic preference parameters: time, risk, and social preferences, and risk perception biases. We pay special attention to predictors that are both important drivers of social distancing and are potentially malleable and susceptible to policy levers. We note three important findings: (1) demographic characteristics exert the largest influence on social distancing measures and mask-wearing, (2) we show that individual risk perception and cognitive biases exert a critical role in influencing the decision to adopt social distancing measures, (3) we identify important demographic groups that are most susceptible to changing their social distancing behaviors. These findings can help inform the design of policy interventions regarding targeting specific demographic groups, which can help reduce the transmission speed of the COVID-19 virus.