Personality regulation of decisions on physical distancing: Cross-cultural comparison (Russia, Azerbaijan, China)

The present study investigated cross-cultural comparison of the personality variables (rationality, risk readiness, empathy, Dark Triad traits, implicit theories of emotions) in predicting decisions on physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample included 1077 participants from Russia, Azerbaijan, and China. After reporting if they trust the media, participants chose from different reasons why they wear or don't wear a mask: care for self vs others, risk for oneself vs others, autonomy for oneself vs others, risk estimation, law-abidingness; then participants completed questionnaires. We expected people from collectivistic countries to make decisions based on care for others and people from more individualistic countries – on care for self and autonomy. The results revealed a different trend: participants from all countries chose care for self more frequently than other reasons. This was most prevalent in China, less – in Azerbaijan and less so – in Russia. Rationality and empathy were positive predictors of decisions to wear a mask, risk readiness and psychopathy were negative predictors, the role of narcissism depended on the country. Implicit theories of emotions correlated with empathy in China and Azerbaijan. These two measures predicted the choice of “care for others” over “care for self” in all countries.