COVID-19 Risk Perception and Support for COVID-19 Mitigation Measures among Local Government Officials in the U.S.: A Test of a Cultural Theory of Risk

Tamara Dimitrijevska-Markoski; Julius A Nukpezah

doi:10.1177/00953997221147243

COVID-19 Risk Perception and Support for COVID-19 Mitigation Measures among Local Government Officials in the U.S.: A Test of a Cultural Theory of Risk

Adm Soc. 2023 Mar;55(3):351-380. doi: 10.1177/00953997221147243. Epub 2023 Jan 24.

Authors

Tamara Dimitrijevska-Markoski¹, Julius A Nukpezah²

Affiliations

¹ University of South Florida, USA.
² Mississippi State University, USA.

Abstract

This study relies on a cultural theory of risk to examine how cultural biases (hierarchy, individualism, egalitarianism, and fatalism) of local government officials affect their COVID-19 risk perception and support for COVID-19 mitigation measures. After controlling for partisanship, religiosity, and other factors, the analysis of survey data from county governments in the U.S. revealed that cultural biases matter. Officials with egalitarian and hierarchical cultural biases report higher support for adopting COVID-19 mitigation measures, while those with individualistic cultural biases report lower support. These findings highlight the need to understand cultural worldviews and develop cultural competencies necessary for governing traumatic events.

Keywords: COVID-19; county; cultural theory of risk; partisanship; religion.