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Photo: Jessica Gow / TT
Men are worse at changing their behavior due to the crown pandemic. Stock Photography.
Men are worse than women at changing their behavior due to the crown crisis. The Social Protection and Preparedness Agency (MSB) is targeting its information campaign on the coronavirus based on age and mother tongue, but has yet to see any reason to do so specifically against men.
Wash your hands, don’t know others, and stay home if you notice symptoms. The demands of the Public Health Authority have now been hampered by most Swedes. However, men find it more difficult to change their behavior than women.
A previous Sifound study shows that women are more anxious than men to change their social behavior to avoid being infected with the coronavirus.
“Women are more inclined to accept the advice and recommendations and to change their behavior,” Maria Bergstrand, MSB unit chief, said at a press conference in early April.
Along with, among other things, the Public Health Agency and the National Board of Health and Welfare, the Government has commissioned the MSB to carry out a major information effort to come up with coordinated information on the new coronavirus. The objective is to reach the largest possible proportion of the population.
He created a special campaign.
When several people who died of covid-19 in Stockholm turned out to have Somali incitement, MSB was criticized for not providing enough information in other languages. They promised to try more vigorously to reach the affected groups.
When it turned out that people over 70 continued to socialize as usual, despite advice, a special campaign was directed at the age group.
But targeting information directly to men is not an MSB or the Public Health Agency plans to do so.
– Now the risk groups are our focus. Of course, we want people to follow the authorities’ advice, but we don’t have gender-specific information, says Teresa Palmquist, project manager for the MSB information initiative.
TT: But one of the goals is to reach as much of the population as possible, wouldn’t it be nice to focus on the group that doesn’t essentially change their behavior?
– I don’t think there are enough differences between women and men yet. We see a significant difference, but it is not gigantic. Previous research also shows very clearly that everyone has assimilated the information, but whether or not you choose to follow it is another matter, says Teresa Palmquist.
I’m not surprised by the behavior
Mathias Ericson of the University of Gothenburg has investigated, among other things, crisis and risk management from a gender perspective. No wonder men find it difficult to change their behavior.
– Although the differences are not huge in this particular study, it is a pattern that we have seen before, that men find it more difficult to obtain this type of information. One explanation is the norms of masculinity that men want to decide for themselves and not subordinate themselves to. The recommendations challenge your sense of control.
TT: Should MSB direct your information based on gender?
– It’s probably not that easy. But when they design their information campaign, they should carry with them and think about how information is received based on gender, at least to increase long-term susceptibility and not strengthen these standards, says Mathias Ericson.
TT: What is the best solution to reach men?
– With greater equality in society. These issues need to be addressed more broadly and comprehensively. Men also lose the maintenance of masculinity norms that make it difficult for men to see themselves as vulnerable. Obviously, it helps them not follow the advice of the authorities and they may be at greater risk of contracting the coronavirus and dying, says Mathias Ericson.
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