Background and concurrent factors predicting non-adherence to public health preventive measures during the chronic phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

Background To determine factors that predict non-adherence to preventive measures for COVID-19 during the chronic phase of the pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional, general population survey was conducted in Israel. Sociodemographic, health-related, behavioral and COVID-19-related characteristics were collected. Results Among 2055 participants, non-adherence was associated with male gender, young age, bachelorhood, being employed, lower decrease in income, low physical activity, psychological distress, ADHD symptoms, past risk-taking and anti-social behavior, low pro-sociality, perceived social norms favoring non-adherence, low perceived risk of COVID-19, low perceived efficacy of the preventive measures, and high perceived costs of adherence to the preventive measures. Conclusion There appears to be a need for setting out and communicating preventive measures to specifically targeted at-risk populations.