National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic
Authors: Van Bavel Jay J. , Cichocka Aleksandra , Capraro Valerio , Sjåstad Hallgeir , Nezlek John B. , Pavlović Tomislav , Alfano Mark , Gelfand Michele J. , Azevedo Flavio , Birtel Michèle D. , Cislak Aleksandra , Lockwood Patricia L. , Ross Robert Malcolm , Abts Koen , Agadullina Elena , Aruta John Jamir Benzon , Besharati Sahba Nomvula , Bor Alexander , Choma Becky L. , Crabtree Charles David , Cunningham William A. , De Koustav , Ejaz Waqas , Elbaek Christian T. , Findor Andrej , Flichtentrei Daniel , Franc Renata , Gjoneska Biljana , Gruber June , Gualda Estrella , Horiuchi Yusaku , Huynh Toan Luu Duc , Ibanez Agustin , Imran Mostak Ahamed , Israelashvili Jacob , Jasko Katarzyna , Kantorowicz Jaroslaw , Kantorowicz-Reznichenko Elena , Krouwel André , Laakasuo Michael , Lamm Claus , Leygue Caroline , Lin Ming-Jen , Mansoor Mohammad Sabbir , Marie Antoine , Mayiwar Lewend , Mazepus Honorata , McHugh Cillian , Minda John Paul , Mitkidis Panagiotis , Olsson Andreas , Otterbring Tobias , Packer Dominic J. , Perry Anat , Petersen Michael Bang , Puthillam Arathy , Riaño-Moreno Julián C. , Rothmund Tobias , Santamaría-García Hernando , Schmid Petra C. , Stoyanov Drozdstoy , Tewari Shruti , Todosijević Bojan , Tsakiris Manos , Tung Hans H. , Umbreș Radu G. , Vanags Edmunds , Vlasceanu Madalina , Vonasch Andrew , Yucel Meltem , Zhang Yucheng , Abad Mohcine , Adler Eli , Akrawi Narin , Mdarhri Hamza Alaoui , Amara Hanane , Amodio David M. , Antazo Benedict G. , Apps Matthew , Ay F. Ceren , Ba Mouhamadou Hady , Barbosa Sergio , Bastian Brock , Berg Anton , Bernal-Zárate Maria P. , Bernstein Michael , Białek Michał , Bilancini Ennio , Bogatyreva Natalia , Boncinelli Leonardo , Booth Jonathan E. , Borau Sylvie , Buchel Ondrej , Cameron C. Daryl , Carvalho Chrissie F. , Celadin Tatiana , Cerami Chiara , Chalise Hom Nath , Cheng Xiaojun , Cian Luca , Cockcroft Kate , Conway Jane , Córdoba-Delgado Mateo Andres , Crespi Chiara , Crouzevialle Marie , Cutler Jo , Cypryańska Marzena , Dabrowska Justyna , Daniels Michael A. , Davis Victoria H. , Dayley Pamala N. , Delouvee Sylvain , Denkovski Ognjan , Dezecache Guillaume , Dhaliwal Nathan A. , Diato Alelie B. , Di Paolo Roberto , Drosinou Marianna , Dulleck Uwe , Ekmanis Jānis , Ertan Arhan S. , Etienne Tom W. , Farhana Hapsa Hossain , Farkhari Fahima , Farmer Harry , Fenwick Ali , Fidanovski Kristijan , Flew Terry , Fraser Shona , Frempong Raymond Boadi , Fugelsang Jonathan A. , Gale Jessica , Garcia-Navarro E. Begoña , Garladinne Prasad , Ghajjou Oussama , Gkinopoulos Theofilos , Gray Kurt , Griffin Siobhán M. , Gronfeldt Bjarki , Gümren Mert , Gurung Ranju Lama , Halperin Eran , Harris Elizabeth , Herzon Volo , Hruška Matej , Huang Guanxiong , Hudecek Matthias F. C. , Isler Ozan , Jangard Simon , Jørgensen Frederik J. , Kachanoff Frank , Kahn John , Dangol Apsara Katuwal , Keudel Oleksandra , Koppel Lina , Koverola Mika , Kubin Emily , Kunnari Anton , Kutiyski Yordan , Laguna Oscar , Leota Josh , Lermer Eva , Levy Jonathan , Levy Neil , Li Chunyun , Long Elizabeth U. , Longoni Chiara , Maglić Marina , McCashin Darragh , Metcalf Alexander L. , Mikloušić Igor , El Mimouni Soulaimane , Miura Asako , Molina-Paredes Juliana , Monroy-Fonseca César , Morales-Marente Elena , Moreau David , Muda Rafał , Myer Annalisa , Nash Kyle , Nesh-Nash Tarik , Nitschke Jonas P. , Nurse Matthew S. , Ohtsubo Yohsuke , Oldemburgo de Mello Victoria , O’Madagain Cathal , Onderco Michal , Palacios-Galvez M. Soledad , Palomäki Jussi , Pan Yafeng , Papp Zsófia , Pärnamets Philip , Paruzel-Czachura Mariola , Pavlović Zoran , Payán-Gómez César , Perander Silva , Pitman Michael Mark , Prasad Rajib , Pyrkosz-Pacyna Joanna , Rathje Steve , Raza Ali , Rêgo Gabriel G. , Rhee Kasey , Robertson Claire E. , Rodríguez-Pascual Iván , Saikkonen Teemu , Salvador-Ginez Octavio , Sampaio Waldir M. , Santi Gaia C. , Santiago-Tovar Natalia , Savage David , Scheffer Julian A. , Schönegger Philipp , Schultner David T. , Schutte Enid M. , Scott Andy , Sharma Madhavi , Sharma Pujan , Skali Ahmed , Stadelmann David , Stafford Clara Alexandra , Stanojević Dragan , Stefaniak Anna , Sternisko Anni , Stoica Agustin , Stoyanova Kristina K. , Strickland Brent , Sundvall Jukka , Thomas Jeffrey P. , Tinghög Gustav , Torgler Benno , Traast Iris J. , Tucciarelli Raffaele , Tyrala Michael , Ungson Nick D. , Uysal Mete S. , Van Lange Paul A. M. , van Prooijen Jan-Willem , van Rooy Dirk , Västfjäll Daniel , Verkoeijen Peter , Vieira Joana B. , von Sikorski Christian , Walker Alexander Cameron , Watermeyer Jennifer , Wetter Erik , Whillans Ashley , Willardt Robin , Wohl Michael J. A. , Wójcik Adrian Dominik , Wu Kaidi , Yamada Yuki , Yilmaz Onurcan , Yogeeswaran Kumar , Ziemer Carolin-Theresa , Zwaan Rolf A. , Boggio Paulo S. 
Published: January 2022

Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1,N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = −0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics.