TY - ABST

T1 - Does political stringency change students' adherence to governmental recommendations?

AU - Berg-Beckhoff, G.

AU - Bask, M.

AU - Jervelund, S. S.

AU - Quickfall, A.

AU - Khan, F. Rabiee

AU - Oddsson, G.

AU - van der Wel, K. A.

AU - Sarasjarvi, K. K.

AU - Skalicka, V.

AU - Van de Velde, S.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - IntroductionKnowing predictors for adherence to governmental recommendations is fundamental to guiding health communication in pandemic situations. This study investigated whether political stringency was associated with students’ adherence to the COVID-19 governmental measures in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden) and the United Kingdom (UK).MethodsWe used data from a cross-sectional online survey, from university students in all Nordic countries and the UK (N = 10.345), in May 2020. Data on socio-demography, study information, living arrangements, health behaviors, stress, knowledge, and concern about COVID-19 infection supplemented with measures on political stringency from the Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker were utilised. Multiple linear regression analysis methods were applied.ResultsAround 66% reported that they followed governmental measures. Our model explained only 10% of the variation of adherence. The main predictors for adherence were older age, female sex, and being worried about the COVID-19 infection. More days since lockdown and political stringency were also associated with adherence to governmental recommendations in all countries. Sweden had the lowest willingness to adhere to governmental recommendations even though the strength of the association between political stringency and adherence was similar to other countries.ConclusionsPolitical stringency and congruent communication are important in ensuring adherence to governmental recommendations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Key messages

AB - IntroductionKnowing predictors for adherence to governmental recommendations is fundamental to guiding health communication in pandemic situations. This study investigated whether political stringency was associated with students’ adherence to the COVID-19 governmental measures in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden) and the United Kingdom (UK).MethodsWe used data from a cross-sectional online survey, from university students in all Nordic countries and the UK (N = 10.345), in May 2020. Data on socio-demography, study information, living arrangements, health behaviors, stress, knowledge, and concern about COVID-19 infection supplemented with measures on political stringency from the Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker were utilised. Multiple linear regression analysis methods were applied.ResultsAround 66% reported that they followed governmental measures. Our model explained only 10% of the variation of adherence. The main predictors for adherence were older age, female sex, and being worried about the COVID-19 infection. More days since lockdown and political stringency were also associated with adherence to governmental recommendations in all countries. Sweden had the lowest willingness to adhere to governmental recommendations even though the strength of the association between political stringency and adherence was similar to other countries.ConclusionsPolitical stringency and congruent communication are important in ensuring adherence to governmental recommendations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Key messages

U2 - 10.1093/eurpub/ckac131.089

DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckac131.089

M3 - Conference abstract in journal

VL - 32

SP - III448

JO - European Journal of Public Health

JF - European Journal of Public Health

SN - 1101-1262

IS - Supplement 3

ER -