Abstract
Human behavior, including making decisions about personal protective behaviors such as wearing a mask in public, impacts the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated reopening/recovery efforts. A nationally representative survey of 1,198 U.S. residents was used to study demographics, perceptions, and stated beliefs of residents who indicated they believes that masks have a role in society in response to COVID-19 and whether they self-reported wearing masks in the seven public locations studied. Of those who believed masks had a role, a lower percentage of respondents voluntarily wore a mask in their workplace (42%) or gym (49%) when compared to other locations studied. A higher percentage of women who believed masks have a role in society voluntarily wore a mask at a big box or specialty grocery store, home improvement store, school, clothing retailer or other retailer when compared to the percentage of men. Individuals who believed that wearing masks protected others were more likely to report voluntarily wearing them, showing evidence of altruism. Social pressure was found to negatively impact the probability of voluntary mask wearing amongst those who believed masks have a role. This suggests that social shaming won’t increase compliance among these individuals and that bandwagoning was not evident in encouraging mask wearing behavior, for at least some segments of the population. Free-riding is one possible explanation for why an individual respondent may self-report belief that mask wearing has a role in society and simultaneously self-report not voluntarily wearing a mask in public locations, although it is admittedly not the only plausible explanation. Promotion of altruism, rather than social shaming, is likely to increase mask wearing based on the data collected in June of 2020. Tactics to improve public health initiative compliance and participation may change as the duration of the pandemic’s impacts increase and/or may differ in segments of the population prone to greater levels of individualism or with varying levels of knowledge about viral disease spread.
Social pressure, altruism, free-riding, and non-compliance in mask wearing by U.S. residents in response to COVID-19 pandemic
