The current paper aims to investigate the effects of pandemics and self-construal primes (i.e., collectivist/individualist) on two pandemic behaviours, namely compliance to social distancing measures (SDM) and prosociality while controlling for health anxiety. Study 1 (n = 207; M age = 39.8 years, SD age = 12.3) examined the effect of pandemic salience (PS) and self-construal on Compliance to Social Distancing Measure. Results found a significant effect of PS on compliance to SDM. Study 2 (n = 203; M age = 38.9, SD age = 11.6) examined the effects of pandemic salience (PS) and self-construal on prosociality, as measured by the Prosocial Behavioural Intentions Scale and Prosociality Scale. Results from Study 2 found a two-way interaction effect of PS and delay for helping actions, and a three-way interaction effect of PS, delay, and self-construal for caring actions and empathy. Individuals were more inclined to help others immediately after PS regardless of self-construal. They also endorsed more caring actions and empathy immediately after PS, only if they had been primed with collectivism self-construal. Findings from these studies offer important considerations in the conceptualization of community interventions during crises such as a pandemic or other community disasters.
