Delay discounting and under-valuing of recent information predict poorer adherence to social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic


Lloyd, Alex, McKay, Ryan, Hartman, Todd K, Vincent, Benjamin T, Murphy, Jamie, Gibson-Miller, Jilly, Levita, Liat, Bennett, Kate ORCID: 0000-0003-3164-6894, McBride, Orla, Martinez, Anton P et al (show 8 more authors) (2021) Delay discounting and under-valuing of recent information predict poorer adherence to social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 11 (1). 19237-.

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented global changes in individual and collective behaviour. To reduce the spread of the virus, public health bodies have promoted social distancing measures while attempting to mitigate their mental health consequences. The current study aimed to identify cognitive predictors of social distancing adherence and mental health symptoms, using computational models derived from delay discounting (the preference for smaller, immediate rewards over larger, delayed rewards) and patch foraging (the ability to trade-off between exploiting a known resource and exploring an unknown one). In a representative sample of the UK population (N = 442), we find that steeper delay discounting predicted poorer adherence to social distancing measures and greater sensitivity to reward magnitude during delay discounting predicted higher levels of anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, under-valuing recently sampled information during foraging independently predicted greater violation of lockdown guidance. Our results suggest that those who show greater discounting of delayed rewards struggle to maintain social distancing. Further, those who adapt faster to new information are better equipped to change their behaviour in response to public health measures. These findings can inform interventions that seek to increase compliance with social distancing measures whilst minimising negative repercussions for mental health.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Humans, Anxiety, Motivation, Mental Health, Public Health, Communicable Disease Control, Guideline Adherence, Female, Male, Pandemics, Delay Discounting, United Kingdom, COVID-19, Physical Distancing
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 04 Oct 2021 07:42
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 21:27
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98772-5
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98772-5
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3139137
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