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High Boredom Proneness and Low Trait Self-Control Impair Adherence to Social Distancing Guidelines during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Wanja Wolff

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany
    Department of Educational Psychology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Corinna S. Martarelli

    (Faculty of Psychology, Swiss Distance University Institute, 3900 Brig, Switzerland)

  • Julia Schüler

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, 78464 Konstanz, Germany)

  • Maik Bieleke

    (Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Social distancing during the coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is crucial to reduce the spread of the virus. However, its effectiveness hinges on adherence by individuals who face substantial burdens from the required behavioral restrictions. Here, we investigate sources of individual variation in adhering to social distancing guidelines. In a high-powered study ( N = 895), we tested direct and indirect effects of boredom and self-control on adherence. The results showed that both traits were important predictors of adherence but the underlying mechanisms differed. Specifically, individuals high in boredom perceived social distancing as more difficult, which in turn reduced their adherence (i.e., a mediated effect). In contrast, individuals high in self-control adhered more to the guidelines without perceiving them as more or less difficult; however, self-control moderated the effect of difficulty on adherence. Our results are immediately relevant to improve the efficacy of social distancing guidelines in the COVID-19 response.

Suggested Citation

  • Wanja Wolff & Corinna S. Martarelli & Julia Schüler & Maik Bieleke, 2020. "High Boredom Proneness and Low Trait Self-Control Impair Adherence to Social Distancing Guidelines during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-10, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5420-:d:390714
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jay J. Van Bavel & Katherine Baicker & Paulo S. Boggio & Valerio Capraro & Aleksandra Cichocka & Mina Cikara & Molly J. Crockett & Alia J. Crum & Karen M. Douglas & James N. Druckman & John Drury & Oe, 2020. "Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(5), pages 460-471, May.
    2. Corinna S. Martarelli & Wanja Wolff, 2020. "Too bored to bother? Boredom as a potential threat to the efficacy of pandemic containment measures," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-5, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Patti C. Parker & Virginia M. C. Tze & Lia M. Daniels & Alyse Sukovieff, 2021. "Boredom Intervention Training Phase I: Increasing Boredom Knowledge through a Psychoeducational Video," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Sylvie Droit-Volet & Sandrine Gil & Natalia Martinelli & Nicolas Andant & Maélys Clinchamps & Lénise Parreira & Karine Rouffiac & Michael Dambrun & Pascal Huguet & Benoît Dubuis & Bruno Pereira & COVI, 2020. "Time and Covid-19 stress in the lockdown situation: Time free, «Dying» of boredom and sadness," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Catherine Audrin & Marine Hascoët, 2021. "Bored to Be Wild: How Boredom Is Related to Pre-Service Teachers’ Intention to Persist in Their Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-11, April.
    4. Anne Marie Novak & Adi Katz & Michal Bitan & Shahar Lev-Ari, 2022. "The Association between the Sense of Coherence and the Self-Reported Adherence to Guidelines during the First Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    5. Wanja Wolff & Maik Bieleke & Lucas Keller, 2022. "Boredom Proneness Predicts Self-Assessed Decision Errors in Sports but Is Unrelated to Risk Taking in General," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-11, March.
    6. Md Shahzalal & Hamedi Mohd Adnan, 2022. "Attitude, Self-Control, and Prosocial Norm to Predict Intention to Use Social Media Responsibly: From Scale to Model Fit towards a Modified Theory of Planned Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-38, August.
    7. Silke Ohlmeier & Corinna Klingler & Isabell Schellartz & Holger Pfaff, 2022. "Having a Break or Being Imprisoned: Influence of Subjective Interpretations of Quarantine and Isolation on Boredom," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-21, February.
    8. Eugene Song & Jae-Eun Lee & Seola Kwon, 2021. "Effect of Public Empathy with Infection-Control Guidelines on Infection-Prevention Attitudes and Behaviors: Based on the Case of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-18, December.

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