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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Thesis
The relationship between perceived infectability and the health locus of control on pandemic related future discounting and the adoption of pathogen avoidance behaviors
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
01/2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004492
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/125132
Abstract
Utila, a Honduran Bay Island, has an economy reliant on tourism, which has been severely impacted by travel restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Resulting stressors may further impact how individuals respond to the pandemic by affecting perceptions of future prospects, and the value of investment into health behaviors. However, individuals differ in both perceived threat from infection and perceived ability to affect personal health, referred to as the health locus of control, which past studies have associated with differential uptake of health treatment and prevention. Here, we examine perceived infectability and health locus of control measures, and whether these relate to discounting of future outcomes and uptake of infection prevention behaviors such as the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Interviews were conducted with heads of household (age: 17-83, N=292) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (August-October of 2020). Results were analyzed by constructing a path analysis model. While perceived infectability positively predicted PPE usage, having an internal locus of control negatively predicted perceived infectability and was a strong negative predictor of PPE usage. This finding is opposite to our predictions and may suggest that those with an internal locus of control perceive that they can avoid illness without using PPE. Additionally, consistent with this, perceived infectability, belief in the role of chance in health, and higher internal locus of control all predicted more pandemic-related future discounting. Our results suggest that for residents of Utila, personal factors predict differential responses to pandemic-associated threats.
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Details
- Title
- The relationship between perceived infectability and the health locus of control on pandemic related future discounting and the adoption of pathogen avoidance behaviors
- Creators
- Madison Aileen Cavaleiro Hönig
- Contributors
- Aaron D Blackwell (Advisor)Edward H Hagen (Committee Member)Anne C Pisor (Committee Member)Angela R Garcia (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 62
- Identifiers
- 99900882236501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis