What is it about?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially protective behaviors such as social distancing, hand washing, and mask wearing were encouraged by public health officials to limit the spread of the virus. The impact of protective behaviors on risk of COVID-19 infection is well documented in the literature. However, the inverse of this relationship – the impact of personal COVID-19 history on long-term protective behaviors post-infection – remains unclear. This study examines whether awareness of one’s COVID-19 infection is associated with change in one’s protective behaviors.
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Why is it important?
Our study aims to better understand the drivers of protective behaviors after recovery from COVID-19 infection. As COVID-19 has become endemic, our research will provide key insights into protective behavior use and guide public health strategies for both COVID-19 and future communicable disease outbreaks.
Perspectives
Our study observed a drastic reduction in three potentially protective behaviors against COVID-19 – social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing. Notably, reported COVID-19 infection was associated with reduction of future protective behavior use, especially those recovered from an asymptomatic or mild COVID-19. This observation is partially explained by a decrease in perceived susceptibility to the virus, potentially due to immune response acquired through natural infection. It is important for individuals to understand the evolving nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the long-term risks of the infection, thus continuing use of protective measures can be lifesaving for oneself, their family, and the public overall.
Chun Nok Lam
University of Southern California
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Associations between COVID-19 infection, symptom severity, perceived susceptibility, and long-term adherence to protective behaviors: The Los Angeles pandemic surveillance cohort study, PLOS One, June 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0326097.
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