AUTHOR=Pan Wenjing , Liao Wang , Feng Bo , Li Siyue 

TITLE=Explaining differences in self-focused and other-involved public health preventive behaviors between the US and China: the role of self- construal and health locus of control

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1321506

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1321506

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>This study examined national similarities and differences in people's engagement in health preventive behaviors during a public health crisis, as well as investigated the underlying individual-level psychological mechanisms. A conceptual distinction was made between self-focused and other-involved preventive behaviors in response to public health crises.</p></sec><sec><title>Method</title><p>Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted in the United States (<italic>N</italic> = 888) and China (<italic>N</italic> = 844) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hayes' PROCESS was utilized to assess national differences in seven preventive behaviors, along with the mediating effects of self-construal and health locus of control.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The results showed that American participants reported greater engagement in self-focused preventive behaviors than Chinese, whereas Chinese participants reported greater engagement in other-involved preventive behaviors than Americans. Chinese participants also engaged more in other-involved than self-focused preventive behaviors. Self-construal and health locus of control partially explained the observed differences in engagement in preventive behaviors.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>This study introduces a culture-sensitive approach to provide insights for crafting communication interventions that can enhance the effectiveness of health campaigns in the context of a public health crisis.</p></sec>