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The Attitude–Behavior Dichotomy In The Time Of Covid-19: An Exploration Using Generalized Structural Equation Modeling

Author

Listed:
  • RICHARD T. CARSON

    (Department of Economics, University of California, San Diego, United States)

  • W. MICHAEL HANEMANN

    (Department of Economics, Arizona State University, United States)

  • DOHYEONG KIM

    (School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences University of Texas, Dallas, United States)

  • HANNA SHIN

    (School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences University of Texas, Dallas, United States)

  • DALE WHITTINGTON

    (Departments of Environmental Sciences & Engineering and City & Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought the need to quickly deploy non-pharmaceutical measures like facemasks to reduce transmission rates into sharp focus. Factors influencing this behavior are examined through the classic attitude–behavior lens of Fishbein and Ajzen [Belief, Attitude, Intention, and Behavior: An Introduction to Theory and Research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley] cast in the language of property rights and social norms. Behavior is operationalized as wearing a facemask (or not) and attitude in terms of supporting a mandatory mask mandate. This yields targetable segments of the population as they are referred to in a marketing context: wearing/supporting, wearing/not supporting, not wearing/supporting, not wearing/not supporting [Kim, D, RT Carson, D Whittington and WM Hanemann (2022). Support for regulation versus compliance: Face masks during COVID-19. Public Health in Practice, 5, 100324]. Membership in each segment is predicted using a generalized structural equation modelling (GSEM) approach focused on three broad factors. The first includes political and demographic variables, which represent exogenous taste parameters. The second is a set of knowledge variables characterizing the COVID-19 information a person possesses. These are potentially influenceable by health officials. The third relates to risk cast in the form of knowing someone who had tested positive for COVID-19, been hospitalized or died from it. The GSEM results paint a rich picture of how our factor sets interact with the four targetable segments of the population in a critical situation where high but not perfect compliance is needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard T. Carson & W. Michael Hanemann & Dohyeong Kim & Hanna Shin & Dale Whittington, 2024. "The Attitude–Behavior Dichotomy In The Time Of Covid-19: An Exploration Using Generalized Structural Equation Modeling," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 69(04), pages 1571-1599, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:serxxx:v:69:y:2024:i:04:n:s0217590824450073
    DOI: 10.1142/S0217590824450073
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Attitude–behavior nexus; facemasks; structural equal modeling; social norms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C31 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models; Quantile Regressions; Social Interaction Models
    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • M31 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising - - - Marketing
    • P14 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Property Rights

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