Influence of perceived threat of Covid-19 and HEXACO personality traits on toilet paper stockpiling

PloS One
Lisa GarbeTheo Toppe

Abstract

Following the fast spread of Covid-19 across Europe and North America in March 2020, many people started stockpiling commodities like toilet paper. Despite the high relevance for public authorities to adequately address stockpiling behavior, empirical studies on the psychological underpinnings of toilet paper stockpiling are still scarce. In this study, we investigated the relation between personality traits, perceived threat of Covid-19, and stockpiling of toilet paper in an online survey (N = 996) across 22 countries. Results suggest that people who felt more threatened by Covid-19 stockpiled more toilet paper. Further, a predisposition towards Emotionality predicted the perceived threat of Covid-19 and affected stockpiling behavior indirectly. Finally, Conscientiousness was related to toilet paper stockpiling, such that individuals higher in Conscientiousness tended to stockpile more toilet paper. These results emphasize the importance of clear communication by public authorities acknowledging anxiety and, at the same time, transmitting a sense of control.

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Citations

Aug 29, 2020·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·Derek K TracySukhwinder S Shergill
Aug 28, 2020·Journal of Community Psychology·Carmelo CalluengAlelie Briones-Diato
Sep 10, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Venja MuscheMartin Teufel
Sep 22, 2020·Personality and Individual Differences·Anthony A VolkTracy Vaillancourt
Feb 1, 2021·Journal of Anxiety Disorders·Steven Taylor
Mar 13, 2021·Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy : Official Journal of the ESSKA·Carolin KnebelFlorian Pohlig
Apr 9, 2021·Journal of Psychiatric Research·Norman B SchmidtDavid S March
Apr 17, 2021·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Ekaterini GeorgiadouFalk Kiefer
Apr 27, 2021·Personality and Individual Differences·Shinya YoshinoAtsushi Oshio
May 11, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Hojjat Daniali, Magne Arve Flaten
May 18, 2021·International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction·Ahmed M MegreyaNasser F Al-Dosari
Jun 3, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Ann DadichChloe Watfern
Jun 10, 2021·PloS One·Sebastian SchmidtChristiane A Pané-Farré
Dec 3, 2021·Current Opinion in Psychiatry·Vladan Starcevic, Aleksandar Janca
Oct 9, 2021·Current Opinion in Psychiatry·Mary E Dozier, Hilary L DeShong

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Software Mentioned

formr
lavaan
HEXACO

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