Influence of perceived threat of Covid-19 and HEXACO personality traits on toilet paper stockpiling
Open Access
- 12 June 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLOS ONE
- Vol. 15 (6), e0234232
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234232
Abstract
Following the fast spread of Covid-19 across Europe and North America in March 2020, many people started stockpiling commodities like toilet paper. Despite the high relevance for public authorities to adequately address stockpiling behavior, empirical studies on the psychological underpinnings of toilet paper stockpiling are still scarce. In this study, we investigated the relation between personality traits, perceived threat of Covid-19, and stockpiling of toilet paper in an online survey (N = 996) across 22 countries. Results suggest that people who felt more threatened by Covid-19 stockpiled more toilet paper. Further, a predisposition towards Emotionality predicted the perceived threat of Covid-19 and affected stockpiling behavior indirectly. Finally, Conscientiousness was related to toilet paper stockpiling, such that individuals higher in Conscientiousness tended to stockpile more toilet paper. These results emphasize the importance of clear communication by public authorities acknowledging anxiety and, at the same time, transmitting a sense of control.This publication has 15 references indexed in Scilit:
- formr: A study framework allowing for automated feedback generation and complex longitudinal experience sampling studies using RPublished by Center for Open Science ,2018
- The HEXACO Honesty-Humility, Agreeableness, and Emotionality FactorsPersonality and Social Psychology Review, 2014
- The 24-item Brief HEXACO Inventory (BHI)Journal of Research in Personality, 2013
- OptimismClinical Psychology Review, 2010
- Developing pandemic communication strategies: Preparation without panicJournal of Business Research, 2010
- The HEXACO Personality Factors in the Indigenous Personality Lexicons of English and 11 Other LanguagesJournal of Personality, 2008
- Measuring Left-Right Political Orientation: The Choice of Response FormatPublic Opinion Quarterly, 2007
- The Dark Triad of personality: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathyJournal of Research in Personality, 2002
- Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: Conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1991
- Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: Conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1991