The Role of Just World Beliefs in Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic
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In: Social Justice Research, Vol. 35, No. 2, 35, 01.06.2022, p. 188–205.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The Role of Just World Beliefs in Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic
AU - Mariss, Antonia
AU - Reinhardt, Nina
AU - Schindler, Simon
N1 - © The Author(s) 2022.
PY - 2022/6/1
Y1 - 2022/6/1
N2 - This study investigated whether people’s personal belief in a just world (BJW) is linked to their willingness to physically distance themselves from others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Past research found personal BJW to be positively related to prosocial behavior, justice striving, and lower risk perceptions. If social distancing reflects a concern for others, high personal BJW should predict increased interest in social distancing. If social distancing reflects a concern for one’s personal risk, high personal BJW should predict decreased interest in social distancing. Results of a pre-registered internet-based study from Germany (N = 361) indicated that the higher people’s personal BJW, the more they generally practiced social distancing. This association still occurred when controlling for empathy, another significant predictor of social distancing. There were no mediation effects of empathy and risk perception. The findings extend knowledge on the correlates of social distancing in the COVID-19 pandemic which could be used to increase compliance among citizens.
AB - This study investigated whether people’s personal belief in a just world (BJW) is linked to their willingness to physically distance themselves from others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Past research found personal BJW to be positively related to prosocial behavior, justice striving, and lower risk perceptions. If social distancing reflects a concern for others, high personal BJW should predict increased interest in social distancing. If social distancing reflects a concern for one’s personal risk, high personal BJW should predict decreased interest in social distancing. Results of a pre-registered internet-based study from Germany (N = 361) indicated that the higher people’s personal BJW, the more they generally practiced social distancing. This association still occurred when controlling for empathy, another significant predictor of social distancing. There were no mediation effects of empathy and risk perception. The findings extend knowledge on the correlates of social distancing in the COVID-19 pandemic which could be used to increase compliance among citizens.
KW - Belief in a just world
KW - COVID-19
KW - Empathy
KW - Risk perception
KW - Social distancing
KW - Psychology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85124710023&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/003e2f8c-085b-332e-9eec-0787002546f2/
U2 - 10.1007/s11211-022-00388-1
DO - 10.1007/s11211-022-00388-1
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 35194315
AN - SCOPUS:85124710023
VL - 35
SP - 188
EP - 205
JO - Social Justice Research
JF - Social Justice Research
SN - 0885-7466
IS - 2
M1 - 35
ER -