Worldview Orientations and Personal and Social Risk Perceptions for COVID-19 in a U.S. Population-Based Sample

Abstract

Adoption of COVID-19 preventive behaviors involves considering personal risk and the risk to others. Consequently, many COVID-19 prevention measures are intended to protect both the individual engaging in the behavior and others in the population. Yet, the preponderance of research is focused on perceptions of an individual's personal risk, making risk perception for others a critical area for investigation. Two worldview orientations describing values regarding how society should be organized, hierarchy-beliefs prioritizing social hierarchy, and individualism-beliefs prioritizing personal autonomy, have been linked to a range of risk perceptions. This study objective is to examine the association of worldview orientations with COVID-19 risk perceptions for oneself and others in a United States context. Using a national sample of 410 U.S. adults, we examined the associations between worldview orientations and six facets of risk (absolute risk, risk certainty, comparative risk, risk severity, fear, feelings of risk) using demographics-adjusted multivariable regression models. We conducted separate analyses for each of the following referents: (1) personal risk, (2) risk for the average person within the United States, and (3) risk to people within specific social groups (e.g., family, co-workers). Results indicate that stronger hierarchical and individualistic orientations were associated with lower COVID-19 risk perceptions for all three referents. The results were particularly consistent for fear and feelings of risk. Individualism was related to higher risk perception certainty for personal risk and the risk to people within specific social groups. Hierarchy was related to lower perceived severity for all referents. Findings suggest that U.S. public health messaging sensitive to worldview orientations may be needed to optimize acceptance of recommendations for protective behaviors, including vaccination. The relationship of worldview orientations to health risk perceptions may help guide messaging for future infectious outbreaks where risk perceptions are t drivers of protective behavior.

Keywords: COVID-19; Hierarchy; Individualism; Risk perception; Worldview orientations.

Fig. 1

Associations between worldview orientations and risk perception for: personal risk, the risk to the average person in the United States, and risk to people within specific social groups. Notes: ^a Comparative risk was measured using a scale from 1 to 5; all other risk outcomes were measured on a scale from 1 to 4. Each risk perception measure was regressed simultaneously on both hierarchical and individualistic worldviews; results from 16 models, adjusted with demographic variables, are depicted. CIs were set to 95%. Data points represent unstandardized regression coefficients. Dots on the left-hand side of the vertical bar indicate an inverse relationship between the risk facet/referent and the worldview; data on the right-hand side indicate a positive relationship. For example, higher hierarchy is associated with lower perceived severity for one’s own risk. Higher individualism is associated with higher certainty about one’s own risk estimate