ArticleBMJ open2021
Early perceptions and behavioural responses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey of UK adults.
Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 164 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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Who cites it
164 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Behavioural Sciences Contribution to Suppressing Transmission of Covid-19 in the UK: A Systematic Literature Review.International journal of behavioral medicine · 2024Pooled it
- Communication to promote and support physical distancing for COVID-19 prevention and control: a rapid reviewThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Risk Perception towards COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Factors Associated with the Implementation of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions for Reducing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- Implementing Germ Defence digital behaviour change intervention via all primary care practices in England to reduce respiratory infections during the COVID-19 pandemic: an efficient cluster randomised controlled trial using the OpenSAFELY platform.Implementation science : IS · 2023Trial
- Intentional and unintentional non-adherence to social distancing measures during COVID-19: A mixed-methods analysis.PloS one · 2021Trial
- Longitudinal Study of Changes in Daily and Hourly Steps During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan.Journal of epidemiology · 2026Article
- Article
- Factors associated with contraceptive use among reproductive-age women during a pandemic: Evidence from a small developing state.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- BEHAVIOURAL PATTERN DURING COVID 19 AND EFFECT OF VARIOUS HYGIENE PROTOCOLS ON DISEASE PREVENTION AMONG SECURITY PERSONNEL IN UNIVERSITY OF MAIDIGURI TEACHING HOSPITAL.Annals of Ibadan postgraduate medicine · 2025Article
- National identification and trust in institutions: understanding lower COVID-19 vaccination uptake among ethnic minorities in Europe.European journal of public health · 2025Article
- Non-standard employment, paid sick leave, and income loss during COVID-19 self-isolation: cross-sectional findings from South Korea.International journal for equity in health · 2025Article
- Article
- Determinants of COVID-19-related hospital and ICU admissions in the region Haaglanden, The Netherlands: a cross-sectional study.BMC public health · 2025Article
- The Value and Access of Urban Greenspace: A Comparison Study of User Perceptions of the Naval Cemetery Landscape, New York.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Convergence and diversity: how collective risk perception shapes public compliance behaviour - a case study of China's Covid-19 response.Health research policy and systems · 2025Article
- Psychological distress and compliance with sanitary measures during the Covid-19 pandemic.PloS one · 2025Article
- Principles and Pragmatics for Building Trust in Authority Comment on "Placing Trust at the Heart of Health Policy and Systems".International journal of health policy and management · 2025Article
- Considering the Role of Behavioural Fatigue in the COVID-19 Lockdown Debates in Great Britain: A Retrospective Analysis of a National Survey Assessing the Relationships between Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Impact of pandemic mobility restrictions on kidney transplant patients' experience: lessons on quality of care.Journal of nephrology · 2024Article
104 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveTo examine risk perceptions and behavioural responses of the UK adult population during the early phase of the COVID-19 epidemic in the UK.
designA cross-sectional survey.
settingConducted with a nationally representative sample of UK adults within 48 hours of the UK Government advising the public to stop non-essential contact with others and all unnecessary travel.
participants2108 adults living in the UK aged 18 years and over. Response rate was 84.3% (2108/2500). Data collected between 17 March and 18 March 2020.
main outcome measuresDescriptive statistics for all survey questions, including number of respondents and weighted percentages. Robust Poisson regression used to identify sociodemographic variation in: (1) adoption of social distancing measures, (2) ability to work from home, and (3) ability and (4) willingness to self-isolate.
resultsOverall, 1992 (94.2%) respondents reported at least one preventive measure: 85.8% washed their hands with soap more frequently; 56.5% avoided crowded areas and 54.5% avoided social events. Adoption of social distancing measures was higher in those aged over 70 years compared with younger adults aged 18-34 years (adjusted relative risk/aRR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1 to 1.5). Those with lowest household income were three times less likely to be able to work from home (aRR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.45) and less likely to be able to self-isolate (aRR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88 to 0.96). Ability to self-isolate was also lower in black and minority ethnic groups (aRR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.79 to 1.0). Willingness to self-isolate was high across all respondents.
conclusionsAbility to adopt and comply with certain non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) is lower in the most economically disadvantaged in society. Governments must implement appropriate social and economic policies to mitigate this. By incorporating these differences in NPIs among socioeconomic subpopulations into mathematical models of COVID-19 transmission dynamics, our modelling of epidemic outcomes and response to COVID-19 can be improved.
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