ArticlePloS one2021
A Bayesian approach to reveal the key role of mask wearing in modulating projected interpersonal distance during the first COVID-19 outbreak.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effect of face-covering use on adherence to other COVID-19 protective behaviours: A systematic review.PloS one · 2024Pooled it
- The Social Cost of Perseverative Cognition: Impairing Interpersonal Engagement Propensity Through Cognitive and Autonomic Dysregulation.Psychophysiology · 2026Article
- Neural anticipation of virtual infection triggers an immune response.Nature neuroscience · 2025Article
- Digital connection, real bonding: Brief online chats boost interpersonal closeness regardless of the conversational topic.Heliyon · 2025Article
- Greater interpersonal distance in adults with autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2023Article
- The social roots of self development: from a bodily to an intellectual interpersonal dialogue.Psychological research · 2023Review
- Predictors and motives for mask-wearing behavior and vaccination intention.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Refraining from interaction can decrease fear of physical closeness during COVID-19.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- A longitudinal study of interoception changes in the times of COVID-19: Effects on psychophysiological health and well-being.Heliyon · 2023Article
- Article
- Deep visual social distancing monitoring to combat COVID-19: A comprehensive survey.Sustainable cities and society · 2022Review
- During the COVID-19 pandemic participants prefer settings with a face mask, no interaction and at a closer distance.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- Wearing a Mask Shapes Interpersonal Space during COVID-19 Pandemic.Brain sciences · 2022Article
- Face masks reduce interpersonal distance in virtual reality.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- The Influence of Vicarious Fear-Learning in "Infecting" Reactive Action Inhibition.Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience · 2022Article
- Personal space increases during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to real and virtual humans.Frontiers in psychology · 2022Article
- The influence of face mask on social spaces depends on the behavioral immune system.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2022Article
- Assessing Interpersonal Proximity Evaluation in the COVID-19 Era: Evidence From the Affective Priming Task.Frontiers in psychology · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Humans typically create and maintain social bonds through interactions that occur at close social distances. The interpersonal distance of at least 1 m recommended as a relevant measure for COVID-19 contagion containment requires a significant change in everyday behavior. In a web-based experimental study conducted during the first pandemic wave (mid-April 2020), we asked 242 participants to regulate their preferred distance towards confederates who did or did not wear protective masks and gloves and whose COVID-19 test results were positive, negative, or unknown. Information concerning dispositional factors (perceived vulnerability to disease, moral attitudes, and prosocial tendencies) and situational factors (perceived severity of the situation in the country, frequency of physical and virtual social contacts, and attitudes toward quarantine) that may modulate compliance with safety prescriptions was also acquired. A Bayesian analysis approach was adopted. Individual differences did not modulate interpersonal distance. We found strong evidence in favor of a reduction of interpersonal distance towards individuals wearing protective equipment and who tested negative to COVID-19. Importantly, shorter interpersonal distances were maintained towards confederates wearing protective gear, even when their COVID-19 test result was unknown or positive. This protective equipment-related regulation of interpersonal distance may reflect an underestimation of perceived vulnerability to infection; this perception must be discouraged when pursuing individual and collective health-safety measures.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.