Background and concurrent factors predicting non-adherence to public health preventive measures during the chronic phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: To determine factors that predict non-adherence to preventive measures for COVID-19 during the chronic phase of the pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional, general population survey was conducted in Israel. Sociodemographic, health-related, behavioral and COVID-19-related characteristics were collected. RESULTS: Among 2055 participants, non-adherence was associated with male gender, young age, bachelorhood, being employed, lower decrease in income, low physical activity, psychological distress, ADHD symptoms, past risk-taking and anti-social behavior, low pro-sociality, perceived social norms favoring non-adherence, low perceived risk of COVID-19, low perceived efficacy of the preventive measures, and high perceived costs of adherence to the preventive measures. CONCLUSION: There appears to be a need for setting out and communicating preventive measures to specifically targeted at-risk populations.

Symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Are Associated with Sub-Optimal and Inconsistent Temporal Decision Making.

The link between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and steeper delay discounting has been established and incorporated into theories of ADHD. This study examines a novel interpretation according to which ADHD is linked to sub-optimal temporal decision-making and suggests inconsistency as a potential underlying mechanism. In two experiments, MTurk workers completed a self-report questionnaire on symptoms of ADHD and a temporal decision making task consisting of choices between smaller-immediate and larger-delayed options. The delayed option was better in some items, whereas the immediate option was better in others. The rate of choices of the delayed option and the consistency of choices were measured. The results of both studies show that high symptoms of ADHD were linked to fewer choices of the delayed option when it was better, but also to more choices of the delayed option when it was not better. In addition, ADHD was linked to higher inconsistency in both conditions. The findings suggest that ADHD is linked to sub-optimal temporal decision-making rather than steeper delay discounting, and provide further support to the phenomenon of inconsistency in ADHD.

Symptoms of ADHD Predict Lower Adaptation to the COVID-19 Outbreak: Financial Decline, Low Adherence to Preventive Measures, Psychological Distress, and Illness-Related Negative Perceptions.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 outbreak created numerous multidimensional stressors, to which people show different levels of vulnerability. The current paper examines whether symptoms of ADHD are associated with poorer adaptation. METHOD: After the first quarantine in Israel, 2,055 adults participated in an online survey. Participants completed scales probing adaptation indicators: financial status, adherence to preventive measures, mental health, and COVID-19 related perceptions. Background measures, including the level of symptoms of ADHD, were collected. RESULTS: Adaptation indicators negatively correlated with the level of symptoms of ADHD. Financial decline explained a small portion of the link between ADHD and decreased mental health. Background risk-taking, anti-social, and pro-social behavior partially explained the link between ADHD and non-adherence to preventive measures. COVID-19 related perceptions also partially explained that link. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that people with ADHD are more vulnerable to the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore deserve special attention and care.