Institutional trust as a moderator of relation between fear of getting infected and adherence to precautionary measures during COVID-19 pandemic

Ljevaja, Milica and Lazić, Milica and Jovanović, Veljko and Janić, Ognjen (2022) Institutional trust as a moderator of relation between fear of getting infected and adherence to precautionary measures during COVID-19 pandemic. In: XVIII Dani primenjene psihologije. Faculty of Philosophy, Niš, pp. 92-93. ISBN 978-86-7379-605-5

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Abstract

The aim of this research is to test the moderating effect that institutional trust (in government and healthcare system) has in the relationship between fear of getting infected and adherence to precautionary measures during COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2020, 1387 (82.6% female) participants took part in this online-research, with an age ranging from 18 to 85 (M = 37.00, SD = 12.62). All variables were measured on one-item scale. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that the model was statistically significant in the second block, when interaction between the trust in healthcare system and fear of getting infected was introduced (R2 = .067, F(1, 1383) = 5.533, p = .019), while this statistical signifi- cance was not registered when the interaction between the trust in government and fear of getting infected was introduced (R2 = .057, F(1, 1383) = 2.287, p = .131). Significant main effects of fear of getting infected (β = .221, p < .01) and trust in government were registered (β = .071, p < .01), while their interactive effect was not (β = -.040, p = .131). So, the greater the fear of getting infected and the greater the trust in the government, the respondents report greater adherence to precautionary measures. In terms of trust in healthcare system, a significant main effects of trust in the health- care system (β = .107, p < .01) and fear of getting infected (β = .219, p < .01) were registered, as well as their interactive effect (β = -.062, p < .05). People with low trust in healthcare system in conditions of low fear of getting infected adhere less to measures than persons who have greater trust in the healthcare system. When people fear more, they are increasingly adhering to precautionary measures, regardless of the level of trust in the healthcare system.

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