Sociology and Space, Vol. 59 No. 219, 2021.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5673/sip.59.0.5
“Put a Mask and Keep a Distance” – A Study of Determinants of Protective Behavior against COVID-19 Disease in the Republic of Croatia
Dragan Bagić
orcid.org/0000-0002-0371-838X
; Univesity of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Croatia
Adrijana Šuljok
orcid.org/0000-0003-1762-2191
; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
In this paper we analyse determinants of protective behaviour, trust in institutions, risk perception
of COVID-19 and sociodemographic characteristics. The study was conducted via
computer-assisted telephone interviewing from August till October 2020 among a nationally
representative sample of 1,212 respondents aged 18 and older in Croatia. The findings suggest
that statistically significant determinants of protective behaviour are: age (the elderly), gender
(women), presence of preschool children in the household (positive association), assessment
of the risk of infection (greater perceived danger results in greater adherence), assessment of
their own health (those with poorer health adhere more), experience of the COVID-19 disease
(those with more immediate experience adhere more) and trust in the National Civil Protection
Headquarters and scientists (greater trust results in greater adherence to measures). Just
over half of the respondents estimate that SARS-CoV-2 infection is extremely dangerous compared
to 17% of respondents who believe that the danger is small or none. Most respondents
expressed trust in all five institutions and systems for which trust was measured - the greatest
trust is in scientists, and lowest in the media.
Keywords
COVID-19; protective behaviour; risk perception; trust; epidemic measures
Hrčak ID:
255048
URI
Publication date:
1.4.2021.
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