Short-term responses to nudge-based messages for preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection : Intention, behavior, and life satisfaction

Sasaki, Shusaku; Kurokawa, Hirofumi; Ohtake, Fumio

Short-term responses to nudge-based messages for preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection : Intention, behavior, and life satisfaction

Sasaki, Shusaku; Kurokawa, Hirofumi; Ohtake, Fumio

Discussion Papers In Economics And Business, 2020, 20-11, 1-31

Number of Access:672（2025-08-13 22:08 Counts）

Identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11094/76766

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Title	Short-term responses to nudge-based messages for preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection : Intention, behavior, and life satisfaction
Creator	NRID 1000020814586 1000020814586 researchmap permalink ssasaki_econ ssasaki_econ CreatorName Sasaki, Shusaku
	NRID 1000090811430 1000090811430 CreatorName Kurokawa, Hirofumi
	NRID 1000050176913 1000050176913 ORCID 0000-0002-8825-7446 0000-0002-8825-7446 researchmap permalink ohtake ohtake Scopus Author ID 6701666319 6701666319 CreatorName Ohtake, Fumio
Subject	Infectious diseases
	nudge
	behavioral economics
	altruism
	physical distance
Abstract	To control and slow down the spread of COVID-19, policymakers and practitioners are employing messages with elements and wording based on nudges to encourage people’s voluntary behaviors of contact avoidance and infection prevention. However, although existing studies have found that nudge-based messages strengthen their intention to take the behaviors, it is not known whether the messages really promote their actual performance. In the end of April 2020, we conducted a survey experiment on a nationwide sample of Japan through the internet, where we randomly provided to them one of five different nudge-based messages and a message without nudges, and subsequently ascertained their intention to take the contact avoidance and infection prevention behaviors. In the beginning of the following month, May, we further conducted a follow-up survey to determine their actual behavioral changes. The empirical analysis with 5,225 respondents found that only the “Altruistic Message” emphasizing that their behavioral adherence would protect the lives of people close to them reinforced their intentions and also could promote some actual behaviors. However, the similar behavioral changes were not observed for the messages which contained an altruistic element but emphasized it in a loss-frame, or described it as protecting both of their own and others’ lives. The message emphasizing only their own benefit were found to have the adverse effect of impeding their intention and behavior. Further analysis revealed that even the gain-framed “Altruistic Message” with the promotional consequences had side effects of deteriorating the quality of sleep and diet and life satisfaction. When employing nudge-based messages as a countermeasure for COVID-19, the policymakers and practitioners need to carefully scrutinize the elements and wording of the messages while considering their potential adverse effects and side effects.
Publisher	Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University
Source Title	Discussion Papers In Economics And Business
Volume (Issue)	20-11
Page	1-31
Date of Issued	2020-08
Language	English
Handle URL	https://hdl.handle.net/11094/76766
NCID	AA1160366X
Relation.references	URI http://www2.econ.osaka-u.ac.jp/econ_society/dp/2011.pdf
Access Rights	metadata only access
Category	ディスカッション／ワーキング・ペーパー DP/WP
Category	Discussion Papers In Economics And Business

Resource Type	technical report
Local Type	DP/WP
DCMI Type	Text
DCTERMS.bibliographicCitation	Discussion Papers In Economics And Business. 2020, 20-11, p. 1-31
DC.title	Short-term responses to nudge-based messages for preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection : Intention, behavior, and life satisfaction
DC.creator	Sasaki, Shusaku
	Kurokawa, Hirofumi
	Ohtake, Fumio
DC.publisher	Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University
DC.language' scheme='DCTERMS.RFC1766	English
DC.type' scheme='DCTERMS.DCMIType	Text
DCTERMS.issued' scheme='DCTERMS.W3CDTF	2020-08
DC.relation' scheme='DCTERMS.URI	http://www2.econ.osaka-u.ac.jp/econ_society/dp/2011.pdf
DC.subject	Infectious diseases
	nudge
	behavioral economics
	altruism
	physical distance
DCTERMS.abstract	To control and slow down the spread of COVID-19, policymakers and practitioners are employing messages with elements and wording based on nudges to encourage people’s voluntary behaviors of contact avoidance and infection prevention. However, although existing studies have found that nudge-based messages strengthen their intention to take the behaviors, it is not known whether the messages really promote their actual performance. In the end of April 2020, we conducted a survey experiment on a nationwide sample of Japan through the internet, where we randomly provided to them one of five different nudge-based messages and a message without nudges, and subsequently ascertained their intention to take the contact avoidance and infection prevention behaviors. In the beginning of the following month, May, we further conducted a follow-up survey to determine their actual behavioral changes. The empirical analysis with 5,225 respondents found that only the “Altruistic Message” emphasizing that their behavioral adherence would protect the lives of people close to them reinforced their intentions and also could promote some actual behaviors. However, the similar behavioral changes were not observed for the messages which contained an altruistic element but emphasized it in a loss-frame, or described it as protecting both of their own and others’ lives. The message emphasizing only their own benefit were found to have the adverse effect of impeding their intention and behavior. Further analysis revealed that even the gain-framed “Altruistic Message” with the promotional consequences had side effects of deteriorating the quality of sleep and diet and life satisfaction. When employing nudge-based messages as a countermeasure for COVID-19, the policymakers and practitioners need to carefully scrutinize the elements and wording of the messages while considering their potential adverse effects and side effects.
DC.format	76766
citation_title	Short-term responses to nudge-based messages for preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection : Intention, behavior, and life satisfaction
citation_author	Sasaki, Shusaku
	Kurokawa, Hirofumi
	Ohtake, Fumio
citation_publisher	Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University
citation_language	English
citation_date	2020-08
citation_journal_title	Discussion Papers In Economics And Business
citation_volume	20-11
citation_firstpage	1
citation_lastpage	31
citation_public_url	https://hdl.handle.net/11094/76766
citation_abstract_html_url	http://www2.econ.osaka-u.ac.jp/econ_society/dp/2011.pdf

Short-term responses to nudge-based messages for preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection : Intention, behavior, and life satisfaction

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