Extraversion Negatively Predicts Compliance with Social Distancing and Mask Usage Guidelines for Men but Not Women

Colter D. Ray^1,

¹Department of Communication Studies, Louisiana State University, 136 Coates Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Cite this paper:
Colter D. Ray. Extraversion Negatively Predicts Compliance with Social Distancing and Mask Usage Guidelines for Men but Not Women. Research in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. 2022; 10(1):1-5. doi: 10.12691/rpbs-10-1-1

Abstract

Weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic, health agencies began recommending social distancing and mask usage to slow the spread of COVID-19; however, not all individuals adhered to these guidelines as consistently as others. This study investigated if extraversion negatively predicted social distancing behaviors and mask usage in a sample of participants from North America. Additionally, based on research on sex differences and engaging in health risk behaviors, it was hypothesized that the relationships between extraversion, social distancing, and mask usage would be moderated by biological sex, such that the relationships would be stronger for men than women. Results showed that extraversion was negatively related to mask usage and social distancing guidelines for men and that no relationship between extraversion and complying with these guidelines occurred for women.

Keywords:
compliance COVID-19 extraversion health risk behaviors mask usage sex differences social distancing

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