Wearing Covids and Masks Outdoors: How Culture and Evolution Shape Our Behaviors

An international research team led by Christophe Rander, a professor of biology education at the University of Tübingen, has revealed that people in collectivist societies like Japan have been involved in such individualistic countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. They found that they showed more willingness to wear outdoor masks than things. As America

An increasing motivation to wear masks outdoors has also been observed in areas that have been particularly affected by pathogens for thousands of years. Professor Rander and his team came to these conclusions after assessing online surveys conducted in 53 countries. This study was recently published in the journal Social Science Research.

The masks covering the nose and mouth were intended to protect them from coronavirus infections during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was not always clear how effective they were in a variety of situations. Regardless of this, Randler and his team are making it clear that people from different countries and cultures will wear masks to protect themselves, and more than anything, to reduce the risk of infection to others. I was interested.

Self-reporting through online surveys

During the pandemic from December 2020 to April 2021, the researchers asked birdwatchers from 53 countries for information on wearing outdoor masks. “We focused on outdoor leisure activities because there were fewer government regulations or at least fewer government controls than indoor spaces such as schools and public transport.

Over 4,000 participants completed the survey. Rander says the survey does not represent the entire population. The limitation is that women are underestimated in groups of people who birdwatch in their free time, and the average age for this group is high.

Information provided by respondents was supplemented by data on population density, national economic status, official masking requirements, and historical burdens of pathogens in each country.

The results showed that each government requirement for anti-Covid measures plays a role in the decision to wear masks, Rander said. “But the two factors, collectivist and individualistic societies, and the historical burden of disease in the region, were particularly important,” says Randler.

“Interestingly, the severity of government anti-covid measures may also be predicted by the history of spreading pathogens in each country.” The government said countries would be heavier in burden from pathogens and previous epidemics. The place where they were putting them was made even more strict. Rander points out the surprising degree to which our evolutionary past still influences our behavior today.

According to Rander, the study also confirmed several known trends. Elderly people and women were more likely to wear masks than younger people and men. This comprehensive study of mask use, incorporating evolutionary and biological properties with cultural and sociological, the research team aims to contribute to the scientific assessment surrounding the events of the Covid-19 pandemic. I did.