Affiliation in times of pandemics: Determinants and consequences

Abstract

Affiliation is a basic human need, especially during difficult times. To what extent did the need to affiliate limit our capacity to abide by health guidelines, in particular regarding social distancing, during the COVID-19 pandemic? We investigated this issue using questionnaire data from two samples of the French population collected during the first French lockdown (April-May 2020). We found that in men, higher social comparison orientation (sensitivity to the needs of others and inclination to help) and higher perceived threat increased the frequency of reported affiliative activities. At the same time, men's reported affiliative activities were associated with a lower reported intention to abide by lockdown and protective measures and lower levels of reported compliance. This pattern was not found in women. The women in our samples, as has been observed elsewhere, were largely compliant, potentially precluding any effects of affiliative needs. Basic though they may seem, affiliative needs and reported affiliative activities may have played a significant role in the implementation of sanitary guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fig 1. Hypothesized direct relations between perceived vulnerability, perceived illness, threat-related emotions, social comparison, affiliation, intentions, and self-reported behavior regarding compliance with the lockdown and protective measures.

Note. The bold black lines represent expected direct relations (regressions and correlations). P.Vuln = perceived vulnerability; P. Illness = perceived illness; Threat Emo = threat-related emotions; Affil = affiliation; SCO = social comparison; Abi = SCO ability dimension; Opi = SCO opinion dimension; # = original item numbers of the SCO scale; L. Beha = behavioral self-reported compliance with the lockdown; L. Inten = Intentions to comply with the lockdown; PM. Inten = intentions to comply with the use of protective measures; PM. Beha = behavioral self-reported compliance with the use of protective measures.

Fig 2. The four hypothesized indirect relations.

Note. The bold pink lines and indices represent expected indirect relations (mediation effects). P.Vuln = perceived vulnerability; P. Illness = perceived illness; Threat Emo = threat-related emotions; Affil = affiliation; SCO = social comparison; Abi = SCO ability dimension; Opi = SCO opinion dimension; # = original item numbers of the SCO scale; L. Beha = behavioral self-reported compliance with the lockdown; L. Inten = Intentions to comply with the lockdown; PM. Inten = intentions to comply with the use of protective measures; PM. Beha = behavioral self-reported compliance with the use of protective measures. βab1 = Threat-related emotions’ indirect effect on the prediction of affiliation by perceived vulnerability. βab2 = Threat-related emotions’ indirect effect on the prediction of affiliation by perceived illness; βab3 = the indirect effect of intentions on the prediction of behavioral compliance with the lockdown by affiliation. βab4 = the indirect effect of intentions on the prediction of behavioral compliance with the protective measures by affiliation.

Fig 3. Structural mediation model in women (Sample 1W, N = 827) between perceived vulnerability, perceived illness, threat-related emotions, social comparison, affiliation, intentions, and self-reported behavior regarding compliance with the lockdown and protective measures.

Note. Dotted lines represent non-significant effects at p < .05. Values in bold black and bold black lines represent significant direct effects or correlations. P.Vuln = perceived vulnerability; P. Illness = perceived illness; Threat Emo = threat-related emotions; Affil = affiliation; SCO = social comparison; Abi = SCO ability dimension; Opi = SCO opinion dimension; L. Beha = self-reported behavioral compliance with the lockdown; L. Inten = Intentions to comply with the lockdown; PM. Inten = intentions to comply with the use of protective measures; PM. Beha = behavioral self-reported compliance with the use of protective measures. βab1 = Threat-related emotions’ indirect effect on the prediction of affiliation by perceived vulnerability. βab2 = Threat-related emotions’ indirect effect on the prediction of affiliation by perceived illness; βab3 = the indirect effect of intentions on the prediction of behavioral compliance with the lockdown by affiliation. βab4 = the indirect effect of intentions on the prediction of behavioral compliance with the protective measures by affiliation.

Fig 4. Structural mediation model in women and men (Sample 2, N = 1038) between perceived vulnerability, perceived illness, threat-related emotions, social comparison, affiliation, intentions, and self-reported behavior regarding compliance with the lockdown and protective measures.

Note. Dotted lines represent non-significant effects at p < .05. Values in bold black and bold black lines represent significant direct effects or correlations. Blue lines and values highlight significant indirect (mediation) effects. P.Vuln = perceived vulnerability; P. Illness = perceived illness; Threat Emo = threat-related emotions; Affil = affiliation; SCO = social comparison; Abi = SCO ability dimension; Opi = SCO opinion dimension; L. Beha = behavioral self-reported compliance with the lockdown; L. Inten = Intentions to comply with the lockdown; PM. Inten = intentions to comply with the use of protective measures; PM. Beha = behavioral self-reported compliance with the use of protective measures. βab1 = Threat-related emotions’ indirect effect on the prediction of affiliation by perceived vulnerability. βab2 = Threat-related emotions’ indirect effect on the prediction of affiliation by perceived illness; βab3 = the indirect effect of intentions on the prediction of behavioral compliance with the lockdown by affiliation. βab4 = the indirect effect of intentions on the prediction of behavioral compliance with the protective measures by affiliation.

Fig 5. Structural mediation model in men (Sample 2M, N = 512) between perceived vulnerability, perceived illness, threat-related emotions, social comparison, affiliation, intentions, and self-reported behavior regarding compliance with the lockdown and protective measures.

Note. Dotted lines represent non-significant effects at p < .05. Values in bold black and bold black lines represent significant direct effects or correlations. Blue lines and values highlight significant indirect (mediation) effects. P.Vuln = perceived vulnerability; P. Illness = perceived illness; Threat Emo = threat-related emotions; Affil = affiliation; SCO = social comparison; Abi = SCO ability dimension; Opi = SCO opinion dimension; L. Beha = behavioral self-reported compliance with the lockdown; L. Inten = Intentions to comply with the lockdown; PM. Inten = intentions to comply with the use of protective measures; PM. Beha = behavioral self-reported compliance with the use of protective measures. βab1 = Threat-related emotions’ indirect effect on the prediction of affiliation by perceived vulnerability. βab2 = Threat-related emotions’ indirect effect on the prediction of affiliation by perceived illness; βab3 = the indirect effect of intentions on the prediction of behavioral compliance with the lockdown by affiliation. βab4 = the indirect effect of intentions on the prediction of behavioral compliance with the protective measures by affiliation.

Fig 6. Structural mediation model in women (Sample 2W, N = 526) between perceived vulnerability, perceived illness, threat-related emotions, social comparison, affiliation, intentions, and self-reported behavior regarding compliance with the lockdown and the protective measures.

Note. Dotted lines represent non-significant effects at p < .05. Values in bold black and bold black lines represent significant direct effects or correlations. Blue lines and values highlight significant indirect (mediation) effects. P.Vuln = perceived vulnerability; P. Illness = perceived illness; Threat Emo = threat-related emotions; Affil = affiliation; SCO = social comparison; Abi = SCO ability dimension; Opi = SCO opinion dimension; L. Beha = behavioral self-reported compliance with the lockdown; L. Inten = Intentions to comply with the lockdown; PM. Inten = intentions to comply with the use of protective measures; PM. Beha = behavioral self-reported compliance with the use of protective measures. βab1 = Threat-related emotions’ indirect effect on the prediction of affiliation by perceived vulnerability. βab2 = Threat-related emotions’ indirect effect on the prediction of affiliation by perceived illness; βab3 = the indirect effect of intentions on the prediction of behavioral compliance with the lockdown by affiliation. βab4 = the indirect effect of intentions on the prediction of behavioral compliance with the protective measures by affiliation.