Quality and Lack of Motivation in Public Health
This part of the research examines the role of motivation in public adherence to sanitary measures and vaccination, using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a framework. It highlights how different types of motivation—ranging from external to autonomous regulation—affect adherence to health guidelines. Autonomous motivation consistently predicts long-term compliance with measures like vaccination, while external motivation often leads to negative outcomes over time. Cross-cultural studies confirm that autonomous motivation positively influences adherence to physical distancing.
The findings also emphasize that motivation directly impacts public health, predicting infection rates and hospitalizations. Citizens who internalize the importance of health regulations show better long-term compliance. On the other hand, amotivation, especially distrust-based, is linked to vaccine hesitancy.
Risk Perception and Health Behavior
Risk perception, particularly regarding the severity of illness, plays a key role in motivating adherence to health behaviors. Studies show that higher hospitalization rates increase autonomous motivation to follow sanitary measures. However, as perceived risk decreases, people shift toward external regulation, undermining long-term engagement. Unvaccinated individuals tend to perceive lower risk, contributing to reluctance in adopting health measures. These findings suggest that public health interventions must adapt to changing risk perceptions to maintain motivation.
