Trust in government moderates the association between fear of COVID-19 as well as empathic concern and preventive behaviour
Authors: Karakulak Arzu , Tepe Beyza , Dimitrova Radosveta , Abdelrahman Mohamed , Akaliyski Plamen , Alaseel Rana , Alkamali Yousuf Abdulqader , Amin Azzam , Lizarzaburu Aguinaga Danny A. , Andres Andrii , Aruta John Jamir Benzon R. , Assiotis Marios , Avanesyan Hrant , Ayub Norzihan , Bacikova-Sleskova Maria , Baikanova Raushan , Bakkar Batoul , Bartoluci Sunčica , Benitez David , Bodnar Ivanna , Bolatov Aidos , Borchet Judyta , Bosnar Ksenija , Broche-Pérez Yunier , Buzea Carmen , Cassibba Rosalinda , Carbonell Marta Martín , Chen Bin-Bin , Dimitrovska Gordana Ristevska , Công Doanh Dương , Dominguez Espinosa Alejandra del Carmen , Edine Wassim Gharz , Ferenczi Nelli , Fernández-Morales Regina , Gaete Jorge , Gan Yiqun , Giolo Suely , Giordani Rubia Carla Formighieri , Friehs Maria-Therese , Gindi Shahar , Gjoneska Biljana , Godoy Juan Carlos , del Pilar Grazioso Maria , Hancheva Camellia , Hapunda Given , Hihara Shogo , Husain Mohd Saiful , Islam Md Saiful , Janovská Anna , Javakhishvili Nino , Jovanović Veljko , Kabir Russell Sarwar , Abdul Kadir Nor Ba’yah , Karl Johannes , Katović Darko , Kauyzbay Zhumaly , Kawashima Tinka Delakorda , Kazmierczak Maria , Khanna Richa , Khosla Meetu , Klicperová-Baker Martina , Kozina Ana , Krauss Steven Eric , Landabur Rodrigo , Lefringhausen Katharina , Lewandowska-Walter Aleksandra , Liang Yun-Hsia , Makashvili Ana , Malik Sadia , Manrique-Millones Denisse , Mastrotheodoros Stefanos , McGrath Breeda , Mechili Enkeleint A. , Mejía Marinés , Mhizha Samson , Michalek-Kwiecien Justyna , Miconi Diana , Mohsen Fatema , Moreta-Herrera Rodrigo , Muhl Camila , Muradyan Maria , Musso Pasquale , Naterer Andrej , Nemat Arash , Neto Felix , Neto Joana , Palacio Luz Marina Alonso , Okati-Aliabad Hassan , Orellana Carlos Iván , Orellana Ligia María , Mishra Sushanta Kumar , Park Joonha , Pavlova Iuliia , Peralta Eddy , Petrytsa Petro , Pišot Saša , Prot Franjo , Rasia José , Rivera Rita , Riyanti Benedicta Prihatin Dwi , Samekin Adil , Seisembekov Telman , Serapinas Danielius , Silletti Fabiola , Sharma Prerna , Shukla Shanu , Skrzypińska Katarzyna , Šolcová Iva Poláčková , Solomontos-Kountouri Olga , Stanciu Adrian , Stefenel Delia , Steinmetz Lorena Cecilia López , Stogianni Maria , Stuart Jaimee , Sudarnoto Laura Francisca , Sugimura Kazumi , Sultana Sadia , Suryani Angela Oktavia , Tair Ergyul , Tavitian-Elmadjan Lucy , Thome Luciana Dutra , Uka Fitim , Valickienė Rasa Pilkauskaitė , Walter Brett , Wendt Guilherme W. , Yang Pei-Jung , Yıldırım Ebrar , Yu Yue , Yunes Maria Angela Mattar , Zanoni da Silva Milene , Rudnev Maksim 
Published: December 2023

With the COVID-19 pandemic, behavioural scientists aimed to illuminate reasons why people comply with (or not) large-scale cooperative activities. Here we investigated the motives that underlie support for COVID-19 preventive behaviours in a sample of 12,758 individuals from 34 countries. We hypothesized that the associations of empathic prosocial concern and fear of disease with support towards preventive COVID-19 behaviours would be moderated by trust in the government. Results suggest that the association between fear of disease and support for COVID-19 preventive behaviours was strongest when trust in the government was weak (both at individual- and country-level). Conversely, the association with empathic prosocial concern was strongest when trust in the government was high, but this moderation was only found at individual-level scores of governmental trust. We discuss how motivations may be shaped by socio-cultural context, and outline how findings may contribute to a better understanding of collective action during global crises.