Does personality predict responses to the COVID-19 crisis? Evidence from a prospective large-scale study

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted people’s daily routines and infused their lives with considerable insecurity uncertainty. However, individuals’ responses to the vary widely. present study investigates role of personality traits for key aspects crisis. In a prospective design using large-scale panel ( N = 2217) that represents heterogeneity adult population in Germany, we examined whether Big Five domains facets measured prior predicted terms of: (a) perceptions infection risks; (b) behavioral changes prevent infection; (c) beliefs effectiveness policy measures combat further spread coronavirus; (d) trust relevant policymakers institutions regarding handling coronavirus. Results revealed explained only small portion (between 0.6% 3.8%) variance four outcomes. Nonetheless, several had at least small-to-moderate, theoretically plausible, associations Overall, Agreeableness its Trust facet showed most robust Most trait–outcome were also controlling three possible confounders (sex, age, risk-group membership).