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Political ideology predicts preventative behaviors and infections amid COVID-19 in democracies

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  • Tung, Hans H.
  • Chang, Teng-Jen
  • Lin, Ming-Jen

Abstract

Can one's political ideology predict his or her testing positive for COVID-19 and how? The present study leveraged a recent (April–May 2020) survey of 27,260 individuals across 27 democracies to investigate the associations between political ideology and coronavirus infections. Our individual-level data and mediation analyses allow us to tease out different correlational paths according to which one's political ideology affects his or her infection. We found a more right-leaning attitude to be associated with a higher probability of testing positive both directly and indirectly through conspiracy theory beliefs and physical distancing. Moreover, our cross-national investigation also found that becoming more right-leaning in ideology was associated with a higher level of perceived risk of COVID-19 infection, which made one less likely to test positive. Combined, we provide a more nuanced understanding of the role played by political ideology in the current pandemic, on which the design of a more effective risk communication strategy can be based.

Suggested Citation

  • Tung, Hans H. & Chang, Teng-Jen & Lin, Ming-Jen, 2022. "Political ideology predicts preventative behaviors and infections amid COVID-19 in democracies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:308:y:2022:i:c:s0277953622005056
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115199
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    1. Schultz, Émilien & Mancini, Julien & Ward, Jeremy K., 2023. "What does the French public consider to be a conflict of interest for medical researchers?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).

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