Nudge support in the time of COVID-19, the role of risk perception

The importance of researching public support for preventive policies have been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a representative sample, we investigated the support for commonly used preventive measures (social distancing, hand hygiene and wearing masks) comparing two different policy tools (nudges and regulations). Because of the high risk and unfamiliarity of the pandemic, the respondents' risk perception and experience with the disease was also assessed. All preventive measures were generally supported and, contrary to the findings of previous nudge research, there was no clear pattern whether regulations or nudges are preferred. People with higher level of risk perception supported both types of policies more but slightly favored the regulations. Those who had contact with the disease (either themselves or a close friend or family member contracting COVID-19) reported a higher level of risk perception. When the person themselves was afflicted, this higher levels of risk perception did not translate to a higher level of support, moreover, it even decreased support for the regulations. In case of a loved one contracting the disease, there was an increased support for both types of measures, consequent of the higher risk perception.

新冠疫情的爆发加剧了研究公众对预防政策支持的重要性。通过采用具有代表性的样本，本研究探讨了公众对常用预防措施（如社交距离、手部卫生和佩戴口罩）的支持情况，并比较了两种不同的政策工具（激励措施和法规）。鉴于疫情的高风险性和未知性，我们还评估了受访者的风险感知和对疾病的经验。所有预防措施均得到普遍支持，并且与先前激励措施研究的发现相反，并未出现明显的偏好模式，即法规或激励措施更受欢迎。风险感知程度较高的人群更支持两种政策，但略微倾向于法规。那些与疾病有过接触（无论是自己感染还是亲密的亲友感染COVID-19）的人报告了更高的风险感知。当受访者本人感染疾病时，这种更高的风险感知并未转化为更高的支持度，反而甚至降低了法规的支持度。在亲人感染疾病的情况下，对两种措施的支持度均有所增加，这归因于更高的风险感知。