Physical distancing remains an important initiative to curb COVID-19 and virus transmission more broadly. This exploratory study investigated how physical distancing behaviour changed during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether it was associated with identity with virus transmission avoidance and physical distancing habit strength. In a longitudinal, multinational study with fortnightly repeated-assessments, associations and moderation effects were considered for both overall (person-level means) and occasion-specific deviations in habit and identity. Participants (N = 586, M age = 42, 79% female) self-reported physical distancing behavioural frequency, physical distancing habit strength, and identity with avoiding virus transmission. Physical distancing followed a cubic trajectory, with initial high engagement decreasing rapidly before increasing again near study end. Physical distancing was associated with both overall and occasion-specific virus transmission avoidant identity and physical distancing habit strength. People with strong virus transmission avoidant identity engaged in physical distancing frequently regardless of fluctuations in habit strength. However, for those with weaker virus transmission avoidant identity, physical distancing was strongly aligned with fluctuations in habit strength. To enhance engagement in physical distancing, public health messaging might fruitfully target greater or more salient virus-transmission avoidance identity and stronger physical distancing habit.

中文翻译：

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确定为避免病毒传播的人会加强保持身体距离的习惯-行为关系：一项在 COVID-19 大流行期间进行的纵向跨国研究。

身体距离仍然是更广泛地遏制 COVID-19 和病毒传播的一项重要举措。这项探索性研究调查了在 COVID-19 大流行期间身体疏远行为如何变化，以及它是否与避免病毒传播和身体疏远习惯强度的身份相关。在一项每两周进行一次重复评估的纵向跨国研究中，针对习惯和身份的总体（个人水平平均值）和特定场合的偏差，考虑了关联和调节效应。参与者（N = 586，M 年龄 = 42，79% 为女性）自我报告了保持身体距离的行为频率、保持身体距离的习惯强度以及避免病毒传播的身份。物理距离遵循立方轨迹，最初的高参与度迅速下降，然后在接近研究结束时再次增加。身体距离与总体和特定场合的病毒传播回避身份以及身体距离习惯强度相关。无论习惯强度如何波动，具有强烈病毒传播回避身份的人都经常保持身体距离。然而，对于那些病毒传播回避身份较弱的人来说，身体距离与习惯强度的波动密切相关。为了加强对身体距离的参与，公共卫生信息可能会卓有成效地针对更大或更显着的病毒传播避免身份和更强烈的身体距离习惯。身体距离与总体和特定场合的病毒传播回避身份以及身体距离习惯强度相关。无论习惯强度如何波动，具有强烈病毒传播回避身份的人都经常保持身体距离。然而，对于那些病毒传播回避身份较弱的人来说，身体距离与习惯强度的波动密切相关。为了加强对身体距离的参与，公共卫生信息可能会卓有成效地针对更大或更显着的病毒传播避免身份和更强烈的身体距离习惯。身体距离与总体和特定场合的病毒传播回避身份以及身体距离习惯强度相关。无论习惯强度如何波动，具有强烈病毒传播回避身份的人都经常保持身体距离。然而，对于那些病毒传播回避身份较弱的人来说，身体距离与习惯强度的波动密切相关。为了加强对身体距离的参与，公共卫生信息可能会卓有成效地针对更大或更显着的病毒传播避免身份和更强烈的身体距离习惯。对于那些病毒传播回避身份较弱的人来说，身体距离与习惯强度的波动密切相关。为了加强对身体距离的参与，公共卫生信息可能会卓有成效地针对更大或更显着的病毒传播避免身份和更强烈的身体距离习惯。对于那些病毒传播回避身份较弱的人来说，身体距离与习惯强度的波动密切相关。为了加强对身体距离的参与，公共卫生信息可能会卓有成效地针对更大或更显着的病毒传播避免身份和更强烈的身体距离习惯。