Behavioral insights during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the role of trust, health literacy, risk and fairness perceptions in compliance with public health and social measures.
<h4>Background and aim</h4>Public health and social measures (PHSM) are critical aspects of limiting the spread of infections in pandemics. Compliance with PHSM depends on a wide range of factors, including behavioral determinants such as emotional response, trust in institutions or risk...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320433 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850162838309437440 |
|---|---|
| author | Šeila Cilović-Lagarija Sarah Eitze Siniša Skočibušić Sanjin Musa Stela Stojisavljević Haris Šabanović Faris Dizdar Mirza Palo Dorit Nitzan Miguel Telo de Arriaga Martha Scherzer Benjamin Curtis Katrine Bach Habersaat |
| author_facet | Šeila Cilović-Lagarija Sarah Eitze Siniša Skočibušić Sanjin Musa Stela Stojisavljević Haris Šabanović Faris Dizdar Mirza Palo Dorit Nitzan Miguel Telo de Arriaga Martha Scherzer Benjamin Curtis Katrine Bach Habersaat |
| author_sort | Šeila Cilović-Lagarija |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background and aim</h4>Public health and social measures (PHSM) are critical aspects of limiting the spread of infections in pandemics. Compliance with PHSM depends on a wide range of factors, including behavioral determinants such as emotional response, trust in institutions or risk perceptions. This study examines self-reported compliance with PHSM during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH).<h4>Materials and methods</h4>We analyze the association between compliance and behavioral determinants, using data from five cross-sectional surveys that were conducted between June 2020 and August 2021 in FBIH. Quota-based sampling ensured that the 1000 people per wave were population representative regarding age, sex, and education level based on the data from the latest census in Bosnia and Herzegovina. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to identify significant changes between studies on determinants and PHSM measures. Regression was used to find relations between behavioral determinants and PHSM.<h4>Results</h4>Participants reported strong emotional responses to the rapid spread of the virus and its proximity to them. Risk perception was spiking in December 2020 when rates of infection and death were particularly high. Trends in policy acceptance were divergent; participants did not rate PHSM as exaggerated, but perceived fairness was low. Trust in institutions was low across all waves and declined for specific institutions such as the health ministry. In five wave-specific regression analyses, emotional response (βmin/max = .11*/.21*), risk perception (βmin/max = .06/.18*), policy acceptance (βmin/max = .09/.20*), and trust in institutions (βmin/max = .06/.21*) emerged as significant predictors of PHSM.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study contributes to the body of research on factors influencing compliance with PHSM. It emphasizes the importance of behavioral monitoring through repeated surveys to understand and improve compliance. The study also affirms the impact of public trust on compliance, the risk of eroding compliance over time, and the need for health literacy support to help reinforce protective behaviors. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3f32225799924461a2cb8bc2db0d68f5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-3f32225799924461a2cb8bc2db0d68f52025-08-20T02:22:26ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01204e032043310.1371/journal.pone.0320433Behavioral insights during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the role of trust, health literacy, risk and fairness perceptions in compliance with public health and social measures.Šeila Cilović-LagarijaSarah EitzeSiniša SkočibušićSanjin MusaStela StojisavljevićHaris ŠabanovićFaris DizdarMirza PaloDorit NitzanMiguel Telo de ArriagaMartha ScherzerBenjamin CurtisKatrine Bach Habersaat<h4>Background and aim</h4>Public health and social measures (PHSM) are critical aspects of limiting the spread of infections in pandemics. Compliance with PHSM depends on a wide range of factors, including behavioral determinants such as emotional response, trust in institutions or risk perceptions. This study examines self-reported compliance with PHSM during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH).<h4>Materials and methods</h4>We analyze the association between compliance and behavioral determinants, using data from five cross-sectional surveys that were conducted between June 2020 and August 2021 in FBIH. Quota-based sampling ensured that the 1000 people per wave were population representative regarding age, sex, and education level based on the data from the latest census in Bosnia and Herzegovina. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to identify significant changes between studies on determinants and PHSM measures. Regression was used to find relations between behavioral determinants and PHSM.<h4>Results</h4>Participants reported strong emotional responses to the rapid spread of the virus and its proximity to them. Risk perception was spiking in December 2020 when rates of infection and death were particularly high. Trends in policy acceptance were divergent; participants did not rate PHSM as exaggerated, but perceived fairness was low. Trust in institutions was low across all waves and declined for specific institutions such as the health ministry. In five wave-specific regression analyses, emotional response (βmin/max = .11*/.21*), risk perception (βmin/max = .06/.18*), policy acceptance (βmin/max = .09/.20*), and trust in institutions (βmin/max = .06/.21*) emerged as significant predictors of PHSM.<h4>Conclusions</h4>This study contributes to the body of research on factors influencing compliance with PHSM. It emphasizes the importance of behavioral monitoring through repeated surveys to understand and improve compliance. The study also affirms the impact of public trust on compliance, the risk of eroding compliance over time, and the need for health literacy support to help reinforce protective behaviors.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320433 |
| spellingShingle | Šeila Cilović-Lagarija Sarah Eitze Siniša Skočibušić Sanjin Musa Stela Stojisavljević Haris Šabanović Faris Dizdar Mirza Palo Dorit Nitzan Miguel Telo de Arriaga Martha Scherzer Benjamin Curtis Katrine Bach Habersaat Behavioral insights during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the role of trust, health literacy, risk and fairness perceptions in compliance with public health and social measures. PLoS ONE |
| title | Behavioral insights during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the role of trust, health literacy, risk and fairness perceptions in compliance with public health and social measures. |
| title_full | Behavioral insights during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the role of trust, health literacy, risk and fairness perceptions in compliance with public health and social measures. |
| title_fullStr | Behavioral insights during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the role of trust, health literacy, risk and fairness perceptions in compliance with public health and social measures. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Behavioral insights during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the role of trust, health literacy, risk and fairness perceptions in compliance with public health and social measures. |
| title_short | Behavioral insights during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: the role of trust, health literacy, risk and fairness perceptions in compliance with public health and social measures. |
| title_sort | behavioral insights during the covid 19 pandemic in the federation of bosnia and herzegovina the role of trust health literacy risk and fairness perceptions in compliance with public health and social measures |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320433 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT seilaciloviclagarija behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT saraheitze behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT sinisaskocibusic behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT sanjinmusa behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT stelastojisavljevic behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT harissabanovic behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT farisdizdar behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT mirzapalo behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT doritnitzan behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT migueltelodearriaga behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT marthascherzer behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT benjamincurtis behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures AT katrinebachhabersaat behavioralinsightsduringthecovid19pandemicinthefederationofbosniaandherzegovinatheroleoftrusthealthliteracyriskandfairnessperceptionsincompliancewithpublichealthandsocialmeasures |