Socioeconomic and risk-related drivers of compliance with measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection: evidence from the Munich-based KoCo19 study

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Sara Pedron, Technical University of Munich; Michael Laxy, Emory University; Katja Radon, Ludwig Maximilian University; Ronan Le Gleut, German Res Ctr Environm Hlth GmbH; Noemi Castelletti, Ludwig Maximilian University; Jessica Michelle Guggenbüehl Noller, Ludwig Maximilian University; Maximilian N Diefenbach, Ludwig Maximilian University; Michael Holscher, Ludwig Maximilian University; Reiner Leidl, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg; Lars Schwettmann, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-05-11
• Publisher: BMC
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2023
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15759-9
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BMC PUBLIC HEALTH
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 860
• End Page: 860
• Grant/Funding Information: Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. This project is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and Art, the LMU Klinikum München and Helmholtz Zentrum München. The funding bodies do not play a role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, nor in interpretation of data or in writing the manuscript.
• Keywords: Measures; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Regulations; SARS-CoV-2; Non-pharmaceutical interventions; REASONS; DETERMINANTS; COVID-19; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Covid-19; Compliance; Science & Technology; COMMUNITY
• Research Categories: Statistics; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Objectives: Although a growing share of the population in many countries has been vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus to different degrees, social distancing and hygienic non-pharmaceutical interventions still play a substantial role in containing the pandemic. The goal of this study was to investigate which factors are correlated with a higher compliance with these regulations in the context of a cohort study in the city of Munich, southern Germany, during the summer of 2020, i.e. after the first lockdown phase. Methods: Using self-reported compliance with six regulations and personal hygiene rules (washing hands, avoiding touching face, wearing a mask, keeping distance, avoiding social gatherings, avoiding public spaces) we extracted two compliance factor scores, namely compliance with personal hygiene measures and compliance with social distancing regulations. Using linear and logistic regressions, we estimated the correlation of several socio-demographic and risk perception variables with both compliance scores. Results: Risk aversion proved to be a consistent and significant driver of compliance across all compliance behaviors. Furthermore, being female, being retired and having a migration background were positively associated with compliance with personal hygiene regulations, whereas older age was related with a higher compliance with social distancing regulations. Generally, socioeconomic characteristics were not related with compliance, except for education, which was negatively related with compliance with personal hygiene measures. Conclusions: Our results suggest that for a targeted approach to improve compliance with measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, special attention should be given to younger, male and risk-prone individuals.