scholarly journals Optimism Bias during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence from Romania and Italy

Games ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Elena Druică ◽  
Fabio Musso ◽  
Rodica Ianole-Călin

Given the importance of perceived susceptibility to a disease in adopting preventive behaviors, and the negative impact of optimism bias on prevention, this paper aimed to explore to what extent comparative optimism bias (understood as the tendency to assess a lower probability for oneself to experience negative health events compared to others) is present in the specific context of the Covid-19 pandemic, in two countries with different profiles in terms of the spread of the disease: Italy and Romania. After identifying optimism bias in both countries, we tested whether it depends on respondents’ characteristics like gender, age, education, health status and whether or not they have the opportunity to work from home. We surveyed 1126 Romanians and 742 Italians, and found that optimism bias depends on self-reported health status, and that optimism bias increases with age. Inconclusive evidences were found regarding gender and education level, as well as the option to work from home.

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 647-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liisi Kööts–Ausmees ◽  
Anu Realo

Previous research has shown that life satisfaction (LS) and self–reported health status are strongly related to each other. However, it is not clear whether this association holds across different nations or whether certain country–level indicators significantly affect this association. The study was based on nationally representative samples of 32 countries from the first six rounds of the European Social Survey (N = 291 686). Results from hierarchical multilevel modelling indicated that there was a positive association between LS and self–reported health status across countries, but this association was slightly stronger in countries where governments spent less on the health care of their residents. Self–reported health ratings were also more strongly tied to LS judgements in countries where variability in LS ratings was larger. These results suggest that, especially in less wealthy European countries, policies should target reducing overall social inequality and the negative impact of governments’ underinvestment in health care on LS. Copyright © 2015 European Association of Personality Psychology


Author(s):  
Zhuxin Mao ◽  
Bohao Chen ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Paul Kind ◽  
Pei Wang

To control the spread of COVID-19, governments in different countries and regions implemented various types of lockdown and outdoor restrictions. The research aimed to describe and compare the health status of Chinese people both domestically and abroad in this global health crisis. An online questionnaire survey was distributed to Chinese mainland citizens living in Hubei (the lockdown province), outside Hubei, and those living abroad in 2020. A total of 1000 respondents were recruited and reported worse health status compared with Chinese population norms. People living in Hubei reported worse health status than those living outside Hubei but revealed better health status than overseas respondents. It was clear that the pandemic as well as strict lockdown and outdoor restriction policies affected Chinese people’s health. It is important for the Chinese government to be aware of the negative impact of such strict policies and to take measures to reduce the panic of society when implementing similar policies in the future. It also implies that governments in other countries should promote social support for those who live far from home and actively call for support for non-discriminatory attitudes toward ethnic minorities.


2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloe Morris ◽  
Kenneth James ◽  
Desmale Holder-Nevins ◽  
Denise Eldemire-Shearer

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn P. Whitlock

We investigated HMO members' use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers outside the HMO in 1995-1996. A random 2% survey of Kaiser Permanente Northwest members addressed HMO service satisfaction, self-reported health status and behaviors, and HMO utilization. Among respondents, 15.7% (n = 380) used CAM providers (chiropractors, naturopaths, acupuncturists, others) in the prior 12 months, while 35% were ever users. Multivariate analysis found that those more likely to consult CAM providers were females, more educated, and more dissatisfied with the HMO. These results suggest that HMOs may wish to focus efforts to improve patient satisfaction among CAM service users.


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. e017865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neda Khalil Zadeh ◽  
Kirsten Robertson ◽  
James A Green

ObjectivesThe factors determining individuals’ self-reported behavioural responses to direct to consumer advertising of prescription drugs were explored with an emphasis on ‘at-risk’ individuals’ responses.DesignNationally representative cross-sectional survey.SettingCommunity living adults in New Zealand.Participants2057 adults (51% women).Primary outcome measuresSelf-reported behavioural responses to drug advertising (asking a physician for a prescription, asking a physician for more information about an illness, searching the internet for more information regarding an illness and asking a pharmacist for more information about a drug).MethodsMultivariate logistic regressions determined whether participants’ self-reported behavioural responses to drug advertising were predicted by attitudes towards advertising and drug advertising, judgements about safety and effectiveness of advertised drugs, self-reported health status, materialism, online search behaviour as well as demographic variables.ResultsIdentifying as Indian and to a less extent Chinese, Māori and ‘other’ ethnicities were the strongest predictors of one or more self-reported responses (ORs 1.76–5.00, Ps<0.05). Poorer self-reported health status (ORs 0.90–0.94, all Ps<0.05), favourable attitude towards drug advertising (ORs 1.34–1.61, all Ps<0.001) and searching for medical information online (ORs 1.32–2.35, all Ps<0.01) predicted all self-reported behavioural outcomes. Older age (ORs 1.01–1.02, Ps<0.01), less education (OR 0.89, P<0.01), lower income (ORs 0.89–0.91, Ps<0.05) and higher materialism (ORs 1.02–1.03, Ps<0.01) also predicted one or more self-reported responses.ConclusionsTaken together, the findings suggest individuals, especially those who are ‘at-risk’ (ie, with poorer self-reported health status, older, less educated, lower income and ethnic minorities), may be more vulnerable to drug advertising and may make uninformed decisions accordingly. The outcomes raise significant concerns relating to the ethicality of drug advertising and suggest a need for stricter guidelines to ensure that drug advertisements provided by pharmaceutical companies are ethical.


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