The present study examined individual characteristics potentially associated with changes in mitigation behaviors (social distancing and hygiene) recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Analysis of online survey responses from 361 adults, ages 20-78, with US IP addresses, identified significant correlates of adaptive behavioral changes, with implications for preventive strategies and mental health needs. The extent to which individuals changed their mitigation behaviors was unrelated to self-rated health or concern regarding the personal effects of COVID-19 but was related to concern regarding the effects of the pandemic on others. Thus, mitigation behaviors do not appear to be primarily motivated by self-protection. Importantly, adaptive changes in mitigation behaviors increased with age. However, these changes, particularly those related to the frequency of close proximity encounters, appear to be due to age-related decreases in anxiety and depression. Taken together, the present results argue against over-reliance on 'fear appeals' in public health messages as they may increase anxiety and depression. Instead, the present findings argue for more appeals to people's concern for others to motivate mitigation as well as indicating an immediate need to address individual mental health concerns for the sake of society as a whole.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 缓解行为的个体差异：年龄、性别、心理状态和财务状况的作用。

本研究检查了可能与疾病控制和预防中心推荐的缓解行为（社会距离和卫生）变化相关的个人特征。对 361 名年龄在 20 至 78 岁、拥有美国 IP 地址的成年人的在线调查回复进行分析，确定了适应性行为变化的显着相关性，对预防策略和心理健康需求产生了影响。个人改变缓解行为的程度与自我评估的健康状况或对 COVID-19 对个人影响的担忧无关，但与对大流行对他人影响的担忧有关。因此，缓解行为似乎主要不是出于自我保护的动机。重要的是，缓解行为的适应性变化随着年龄的增长而增加。然而，这些变化，尤其是那些与近距离接触频率有关的，似乎是由于与年龄有关的焦虑和抑郁减少。总之，目前的结果反对过度依赖公共卫生信息中的“恐惧诉求”，因为它们可能会增加焦虑和抑郁。相反，目前的研究结果主张更多地呼吁人们对他人的关注以激励缓解，并表明为了整个社会的利益，迫切需要解决个人的心理健康问题。