Predicting social distancing and compulsive buying behaviours in response to COVID-19 in a United Kingdom sample

This study examines differences between key socio-demographic groups and the impact of strength of social network, political trust, and fear of COVID-19 on working from home (a key social distancing behaviour) and compulsive buying (a maladaptive behaviour) in response to COVID-19. This study used a correlational cross-sectional survey design. A sample of 411 participants in the United Kingdom (UK) completed measures of strength of social network, political trust, fear of COVID-19, length of self-isolation and compulsive buying. Results showed that older people and lower income groups are less likely to work from home in response to COVID-19; that people with a diagnosed mental health disorder exhibited less political trust, more fear of COVID-19, and more compulsive buying; and that people reporting COVID-19 symptomatology had been in self-isolation for longer and exhibited more compulsive buying than those with no COVID-19 symptomatology. The structural equation model showed that age, having a diagnosed mental health disorder, having COVID-19 symptomatology and strength of social network impacted on working from home and compulsive buying, through the mediators of political trust, fear of COVID-19 and length of self-isolation. The results demonstrate that some groups in the UK population may be vulnerable to maladaptive behaviours and poor social, psychological, and physical health outcomes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These groups may require special support to cope effectively with the effects of COVID-19.