Study pinpoints groups less likely to follow COVID-19 restrictions

Men, young adults and people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are less likely to follow the Government’s restrictions designed to stop the spread of Covid-19, a representative survey of 2,252 adults has found.

In the study by University of Manchester academics, most of the respondents reported adhering to the rules, with just 5% or fewer people reporting active resistance to Government restrictions.

However, the survey, carried out in April 2020 and published in BMC Public Health, revealed that better adherence was associated with older age, being a woman and having a white ethnic background.

People from ethnic minority groups were 5.9% less likely to adhere than people who identified as white; women were 6.3% more likely than men.

The findings reflect the higher mortality rates associated with COVID-19 among men and people from BME communities than in the broader population.

The study also found that adherence is likely to be increased or sustained by enhancing people’s capabilities, providing them with sufficient opportunities and ensuring they are appropriately motivated.