Jin Shuxian, Balliet Daniel, Romano Angelo, Spadaro Giuliana, van Lissa Caspar J., Agostini Maximilian, Bélanger Jocelyn J., Gützkow Ben, Kreienkamp Jannis, Abakoumkin Georgios, Hanum Jamilah, Khaiyom Vjollca Ahmedi Abdul, Akkas Handan, Almenara Carlos A., Kurapov Anton, Atta Mohsin, Cigdem Bagci Sabahat, Basel Sima, Berisha Kida Edona, Buttrick Nicholas R., Chobthamkit Phatthanakit, Choi Hoon-Seok, Cristea Mioara, Csaba Sára, Damnjanovic Kaja, Danyliuk Ivan, Dash Arobindu,
Di Santo Daniela, Douglas Karen M., Enea Violeta, Gracieli Faller Daiane, Fitzsimons Gavan, Gheorghiu Alexandra, Gómez Ángel, Han Qing, Helmy Mai, Hudiyana Joevarian, Jeronimus Bertus F., Jiang Ding-Yu, Jovanović Veljko, Kamenov Željka, Kende Anna, Keng Shian-Ling, Thi Thanh Kieu Tra, Koc Yasin, Kovyazina Kamila, Kozytska Inna, Krause Joshua, Kruglanski Arie W., Kutlaca Maja, Anna Lantos Nóra, Lemay Edward P., Bagus Jaya Lesmana Cokorda, Louis Winnifred R., Lueders Adrian, Malik Najma, Martinez Anton, McCabe Kira O., Mehulić Jasmina, Noor Milla Mirra, Mohammed Idris, Molinario Erica, Moyano Manuel, Muhammad Hayat,
Mula Silvana, Muluk Hamdi, Myroniuk Solomiia, Najafi Reza, Nisa Claudia F., Nyúl Boglárka, O'Keefe Paul A., Javier Olivas Osuna Jose, Osin Evgeny N., Park Joonha, Pica Gennaro,
Pierro Antonio, Rees Jonas, Margit Reitsema Anne,
Resta Elena, Rullo Marika, Ryan Michelle K., Samekin Adil, Santtila Pekka, Sasin Edyta, Mareen Schumpe Birga, A Selim Heyla, Vicente Stanton Michael, Stroebe Wolfgang, Sultana Samiah, Sutton Robbie M., Tseliou Eleftheria, Utsugi Akira, Anne van Breen Jolien, Van Veen Kees, vanDellen Michelle R., Vázquez Alexandra, Wollast Robin, Wai-lan Yeung Victoria, Zand Somayeh, Lav Žeželj Iris, Zheng Bang, Zick Andreas, Zúñiga Claudia, Leander. Pontus
The COVID-19 pandemic presents threats, such as severe disease and economic hardship, to people of different ages. These threats can also be experienced asymmetrically across age groups, which could lead to generational differences in behavioral responses to reduce the spread of the disease. We report a survey conducted across 56 societies (N = 58,641), and tested pre-registered hypotheses about how age relates to (a) perceived personal costs during the pandemic, (b) prosocial COVID-19 responses (e.g., social distancing), and (c) support for behavioral regulations (e.g., mandatory quarantine, vaccination). We further tested whether the relation between age and prosocial COVID-19 responses can be explained by perceived personal costs during the pandemic. Overall, we found that older people perceived more costs of contracting the virus, but less costs in daily life due to the pandemic. However, age displayed no clear, robust associations with prosocial COVID-19 responses and support for behavioral regulations. We discuss the implications of this work for understanding the potential intergenerational conflicts of interest that could occur during the COVID-19 pandemic.
