The interaction between social connection and compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 required preventive measures, of which the effectiveness highly depended on public adherence. While some determinants of preventive behavior during epidemics have been identified, the role of social connection variables (e.g., social support and social satisfaction) remains unclear. Interestingly, social connection might be reciprocally affected by compliance with preventive measures in a trade-off manner. This creates a potential public health dilemma that is not yet fully understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the bidirectional relationship between social connection and compliance with preventive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Longitudinal data from six waves (April 2020-March 2021) of Belgian COVID-19 health surveys were analyzed (N = 11974). Random-intercept cross-lagged panel modeling was used to test whether social connection positively predicted subsequent compliance, and whether compliance negatively predicted subsequent social connection. Social support (measured with the Oslo Social Support Scale) and social satisfaction (measured with a single question) were used as social connection variables. Compliance was modeled per separate preventive measure (i.e., hygiene measures, physical distancing, staying home measures, social restriction and mask wearing). The results showed that social support and social satisfaction were positively associated with subsequent compliance with several measures (all p ≤ .04), with all measures being predicted by at least one of the social connection variables. Some of these effects were specifically pronounced in the most stringent waves of the pandemic. In the other direction, compliance with social restriction measures negatively predicted subsequent social satisfaction. Thus, social connection and compliance show a bidirectional relationship, demonstrating the relevance of social connection for infectious disease control during pandemics. Key messages • Social connection positively predicted subsequent compliance with preventive measures in COVID-19 times. • Compliance with social restriction negatively predicted subsequent social satisfaction.