Locked down and divided: political orientation moderates the effects of considering a future lockdown

• Published in: Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.) Vol. 43; no. 13; pp. 12102 - 12105
• Main Authors: Martin, H. K., Stinnett, A. J., Rodriguez, J. E., Holmes, H. L., Alquist, J. L., Uziel, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-04-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Conservatism; COVID-19; Disease control; Editing; Pandemics; Politics; Psychology; Social Sciences; State government; Streaming media; Streaming services; Writing; COVID-19; Intended adherence; Political orientation; Trust
• ISSN: 1046-1310; 1936-4733
• DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-04208-2

To slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, some U.S. State governments restricted public activity by implementing lockdowns. The possibility remains that lockdowns may need to be implemented in the future, whether to combat novel strains of COVID-19 or entirely different viruses. The present experiment tested whether thinking about a future lockdown affects people’s attitudes toward institutions. We found that conservative participants who thought about a future lockdown reported less intention to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and less trust in the government compared to conservative participants in a control condition. We also found that liberal participants who thought about a future lockdown reported more trust in the government and the CDC, compared to liberal participants in a control condition. These findings suggest that merely considering a future lockdown affects people’s intended adherence and institutional trust.