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Cited by 104Risk Perception and ManagementCommunication and COVID-19 ImpactCOVID-19 and Mental Health

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 50 of the 50 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Identity change, uncertainty and mistrust in relation to fear and risk of COVID-19

Breakwell, Glynis M., Jaspal, Rusi·2021·Journal of Risk Research
DOI 10.1080/13669877.2020.1864011
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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic produced threats not only to physical and psychological health but also to the very fabric of family, work and social life. Individuals differ markedly in their ability to cope with such threats. Drawing on Identity Process Theory, our study examines identity processes that shape emotional and attitudinal responses to COVID-19. Survey data were collected from 251 adults in the UK during July 2020. Identity resilience, trust in science and scientists, fear of COVID-19 and perceived own risk of infection were measured. Respondents then watched a video clip designed to focus their thinking further upon the disease. Immediately after, levels of feeling afraid, uncertainty about self-protection, mistrust of anyone offering COVID-19 advice, and perceptions of identity change were indexed. A structural equation model of the relationship between these variables was tested and proved a good fit for the data. Identity resilience is negatively related to fear of COVID-19, which in turn is positively related to perceived own risk of COVID-19. Lower identity resilience is associated with greater uncertainty and feeling more afraid. Greater identity change is associated with higher mistrust, uncertainty and feeling more afraid. Trust in science and scientists correlates positively with perceived own risk of COVID-19 and negatively with mistrust of those offering advice on preventive behaviour. This study shows the usefulness of the identity resilience concept in modelling responses to health hazards. It also illustrates that focusing, even for a short time, on the characteristics of such a hazard can elicit perceived identity changes. Arousing fear is unlikely to initiate self-protection in those who are already fearful or who have less identity resilience. Fostering greater general trust in science and scientists, though difficult, will be valuable, particularly in encouraging public acceptance of mass vaccination against the virus when misinformation and conspiracy theories about it abound.

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Schwarzer R., 1995, Measures in Health Psychology: A User’s Portfolio. Causal and Control Beliefs, 35
  2. Taquet M., 2020, The Lancet Psychiatry
  3. Yıldırım M., 2020, Psychology, Health & Medicine

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Metadata

Authors
Breakwell, G. M., & Jaspal, R.
Affiliations
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • Nottingham Trent University (GB)
Corresponding author
Jaspal, Rusi
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Risk Research
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2020-12-26
Volume
24
Issue
3-4
Pages
335-351
ISSN
  • 1366-9877 (ISSN-L)
  • 1466-4461
DOI
10.1080/13669877.2020.1864011
OpenAlex
W3116849499
Cited by
104
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 1
FWCI
21.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Risk Research (publishedVersion)
  • Nottingham Trent University's Institutional Repository (Nottingham Trent Repository) (acceptedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Risk Perception and Management
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Communication and COVID-19 Impact
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, identity resilience, personal transformation, fear, risk perception, uncertainty, distrust, public trust in science, self-protection, health risk perception, identity process theory, vaccine acceptance, misinformation

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