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Jurnal Psikologi Ulayat: Indonesian Journal of Indigenous Psychology (2021), X(X), XX-XX e-ISSN: 2580-1228
DOI: 10.24854/jpu409 p-ISSN: 2088-4230
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Handling Editor: Made Diah Lestari, Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Udayana, Indonesia
This open access article is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction, provided the original work is properly cited.
HEALTH SELF-REGULATION AND SELF-COMPASSION AS
PREDICTORS OF COVID-19 PREVENTIVE BEHAVIOR AMONG
INDONESIAN SAMPLE
Dicky Sugianto, Jessica Amelia Anna, & Sandra Handayani Sutanto
Department of Psychology, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Jl. M.H. Thamrin Boulevard 1100, Lippo Village, Tangerang 15811, Indonesia
Korespondensi: dicky.sugianto@uph.edu
REGULASI DIRI KESEHATAN DAN WELAS DIRI SEBAGAI
PREDIKTOR PERILAKU PENCEGAHAN COVID-19 PADA SAMPEL
INDONESIA
Manuscript type: Original Research
Abstrak
Pengabaian protokol kesehatan untuk mencegah penularan COVID-19 di Indonesia
menimbulkan keprihatinan dalam usaha mengatasi pandemi. Penelitian ini bermaksud untuk
menguji regulasi diri kesehatan dan welas diri sebagai prediktor perilaku pencegahan
COVID-19. Sampel yang terdiri dari 366 partisipan di Indonesia direkrut melalui teknik
sampling nonprobability dengan mengisi survei daring. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa
regulasi diri kesehatan dan welas diri memprediksi perilaku pencegahan COVID-19. Usia
juga berkorelasi positif dengan perilaku pencegahan COVID-19. Hasil penelitian
menunjukkan pentingnya promosi regulasi diri kesehatan dan welas diri dalam usaha
melandaikan kurva pandemi.
Article history:
Received 4 December 2020
Received in revised form 22 Februari 2021
Accepted 21 March 2021
Available online 4 September 2021
Keywords:
Indonesia
pandemi COVID-19
perilaku pencegahan COVID-19
regulasi diri kesehatan
welas diri
Abstract
The negligence of health protocols of COVID-19 prevention in Indonesia arises concerns in the mitigation of
the pandemic. This study aims to examine health self-regulation and self-compassion as predictors of COVID-
19 preventive behavior. A sample consisting of 366 participants in Indonesia recruited through non-
probability sampling completed an online survey. Findings showed that health self-regulation and self-
compassion predict COVID-19 preventive behavior. Age is also positively correlated with COVID-19
preventive behavior. The results indicate the importance of health self-regulation and self-compassion
promotion to flatten the pandemic curve.
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 preventive behavior, health self-regulation, Indonesia, self-
compassion
Impacts and Implications in the Indigenous Context
This research shed insight on efforts to promote COVID-19 preventive behavior among Indonesian citizens. Due to the increasing
numbers of new positive cases in Indonesia, it is essential to take immediate step to flatten the pandemic curve. Accommodating
health self-regulatory skills and self-compassion into health behavior promotion can assist the government's effort in mitigating
the impacts of pandemic. Social and religious institutions, which are close to the lives of Indonesian citizen, may support citizens’
emotional regulation and health self-efficacy that is imperative in COVID-19 preventive behavior. Promoting self-compassion
and health self-efficacy during the pandemic through social and religious activities may be useful in reinforcing COVID-19
preventive behavior.
Sugianto, Anna, & Sutanto
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INTRODUCTION
COVID-19 pandemic is a global health crisis that requires immediate mitigation. Data on
September 30th 2020 showed that there were 33,441,919 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and
1,003,497 deaths globally (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020a). In Indonesia, there were
287,008 confirmed cases and 10,740 deaths by September 30th, 2020 (Komite Penanganan COVID-
19 dan Pemulihan Ekonomi Nasional, 2020), which was the second highest among South-East
Asian countries (Center for Strategic & International Studies, 2020). The positive rate (ratio
between the number of positive cases with the number of testing) by September 4th in Indonesia was
13.6% (Purnamasari, 2020), which was the highest in Asia (Rizal, 2020).
Many factors contribute to the high prevalence of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.
One of the crucial contributing factors to this prevalence is the negligence of health protocol, such
as physical distancing, proper mask-wearing, and frequent handwashing (Arbar, 2020). Many
sources reported that people in the red zones (areas where there is high incidence of positive
COVID-19 cases) ignored appropriate health behaviors (e.g. Hamdi, 2020; Mandailing, 2020;
Putra, 2020).
The adherence to COVID-19 preventive behavior is essential to mitigate this pandemic
(Prem et al., 2020). Physical distancing and self-quarantine have effectively flattened the pandemic
curve, as shown in countries like Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea. Moreover, in these countries
individual-level mitigation is integrated into country-level mitigation system (Anderson et al., 2020;
Wilson, 2020). Given the urgency of compliance to COVID-19 preventive behavior to flatten the
pandemic curve, it is essential to understand what factors predict the preventive behavior.
Previous studies have explored predictive factors of preventive health behavior. Self-
regulatory processes, such as emotional regulation skills and self-efficacy, are related to preventive
health behavior (Ayed & El Aoud, 2020; Fernández-Abascal & Martín-Díaz, 2015; Gerend &
Shepherd, 2012). Individual differences, such as mindfulness disposition (Haliwa et al., 2020) or
prosociality (Campos-Mercade et al., 2020) is also related to preventive health behavior. However,
little is known about the relationship between self-regulatory processes and individual disposition
such as mindfulness or empathy-related disposition with COVID-19 preventive behavior. Thus, it
needs further investigation.
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Health Self-Regulation
Health self-regulation model explains the relationship between affect regulation and the
adoption and maintenance of health behavior goals. Health self-regulation refers to an individual’s
cognitive, affective, and behavioral process to pursue health-related goals, such as promoting
health, preventing illness, and ameliorate health conditions (Hagger, 2010; Mann et al., 2013).
Health self-regulation is conceptualized as effectiveness in emotional regulation, indicated by high
levels of positive affect and low level of negative affect, and health self-efficacy (Sirois, 2015).
Health self-efficacy is individuals’ belief in their ability to do necessary health behavior to attain
health goals (Schwarzer & Luszczynska, 2008). In pursuing health goals, individuals must regulate
their emotions and believe so that they can do health-promoting behavior to attain that health goals
(Hennessy et al., 2020; Sirois, 2015; Terry & Leary, 2011). Hindrance to emotional regulation, such
as intense negative emotions and ineffective emotional regulation, may prompt the individual to
neglect or obstruct behavior to attain the health goal (Baumeister et al., 2007; Terry & Leary, 2011).
COVID-19 pandemic invokes negative emotions. Many people frequently experience
distress and anxiety (Rajkumar, 2020) due to the threat of contagion or self-quarantine policy, which
limits social activities. Changes in socioeconomic circumstances (e.g., salary decline and
unemployment) contribute to distress and anxiety. These intense negative emotions may disrupt
daily functions, such as disruption in sleep and work or worsening preexisted psychological
problems (e.g., Rajkumar, 2020; Torales et al., 2020).
Furthermore, intense distress and frustration may prompt the individual to engage in
unhealthy and counterproductive behaviors to regulate negative emotion (Baumeister et al., 2007).
For example, uncomfortable feelings due to mask-wearing may refrain people from wearing a mask.
Maintaining a minimum of 2 meters of physical distance may also invoke uncomfortable feelings
for Indonesian people who prefer physical closeness (less than a meter; Sorokowska et al., 2017).
This regulation tends to be neglected. Regulating intense negative affect due to performing health
protocol is one of the crucial things to do to maintain COVID-19 preventive behavior.
Another contributing factor to health goal attainment is health self-efficacy (Hennessy et al.,
2020; Sirois, 2015). Individuals who believe that they can accomplish a health goal may exercise
better self-regulation in adopting a health behavior (Schwarzer, 2011). Previous studies found that
health self-efficacy level is related to health behavior in chronic illness management, such as
diabetes (Osborn et al., 2010), prevention of contagious diseases, such as human papillomavirus
(Petrovic et al., 2011), and the adoption of health-promoting lifestyle (Jackson et al., 2010). Health
Sugianto, Anna, & Sutanto
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self-efficacy and emotional regulation are integral to the health self-regulation model in pursuing
health goals.
Self-Compassion
Self-compassion is a variable that may promote health behavior (Biber & Ellis, 2017; Sirois
et al., 2015; Terry & Leary, 2011). Self-compassion was found related to the quantity of health
behavior, such as adequate sleep, regular exercise, intuitive eating (ingestion due to need of nutrient
rather than emotional), and healthy eating (Biber & Ellis, 2017; Horan & Taylor, 2018; Schoenefeld
& Webb, 2013; Sirois et al., 2015). People with high self-compassion also seek for medical advice
sooner when they have health-related problems (Terry et al., 2013).
Self-compassion is a self-supporting attitude amid suffering and active participation to
alleviate oneself from the suffering (Neff & Germer, 2017). Self-compassion has three positive
components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness, allowing a person to endure the
hardships they face and actively seek a solution (Neff & Germer, 2017; Sirois et al., 2015). When
dealing with health-related problems that invoke intense negative feelings (e.g., the rise of the
COVID-19 pandemic which triggers anxiety and distress), self-compassion may help a person to be
mindful of such a negative affect without being carried away in rumination (Brion et al., 2014;
Brown et al., 2019). The person also is hindered from overwhelming feelings of behavioral and
health consequences of the pandemic and try to see the pandemic from a different perspective (Hall
et al., 2013). They may come to understand that COVID-19 affects everyone else. These mindful
attitudes and balanced perspectives are followed by being supportive to oneself during the
uncertainty (Brion et al., 2014). These result in practicing health protocols to prevent oneself from
COVID-19 infections. Therefore, self-compassion also functions as an emotional regulation when
people deal with health problems (Homan & Sirois, 2017). In the context of COVID-19 pandemic,
self-compassion actively directs behavior to avoid oneself from worse health decline.
Self-compassion was found to facilitate healthy emotional regulation (Inwood & Ferrari,
2018), which is an essential part of self-regulation. Self-compassion alleviates difficult emotions
that often arise when doing behavioral changes to attain a health goal (Terry & Leary, 2011). For
example, when individual is required to follow lockdown regulation, self-compassion helps
individual in facing boredom, anger, and distress through emotional mindfulness and positive
perspectives. The negative emotions are genuinely accepted with self-warmth and support, rather
than engulfed on it. In result, maladaptive behavior (e.g., being angry at policymakers or going
Jurnal Psikologi Ulayat: Indonesian Journal of Indigenous Psychology (2021), X(X), XX-XX
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outside to meet people) is withdrawn. Here, emotional regulation helps people obey the regulation
because they are able to regulate negative emotions effectively.
Current Study
This research aims to explore the role of health self-regulation and self-compassion in
COVID-19 preventive behavior. The results of this study may be helpful in promoting preventive
behavior, especially in Indonesia. We hypothesize that higher levels of health self-regulation and
self-compassion are related to higher COVID-19 preventive behavior among Indonesians.
METHOD
Participants
This research took an online sample of Indonesian citizens consisting of 366 participants
aged 17-64 years old (M = 32.22; SD = 9.76). Two hundred and seventy-two participants (75.68%)
were identified as women, whereas 89 (24.31%) others were men. Participants were recruited by
nonprobability sampling, where the links to online questionnaires were distributed through various
channels in the authors’ social media networks from June to July 2020. Detailed participants’
demographics is presented in Table 1.
Table 1.
Participants Demographic
Variables
N
%
Education
Primary-Secondary
69
18.85
Diploma
25
6.83
Undergraduate
192
52.46
Master
79
21.58
PhD
1
.28
Monthly Income
< Rp 3,000,000
81
22.13
Rp 3,000,000–Rp 5,000,000
61
16.67
Rp 5,000,000–Rp 10,000,000
69
18.85
Rp 10,000,000–Rp 20,000,000
73
19.95
> Rp 20,000,000
82
22.40
Design
This research employed a quantitative correlational design to investigate the relationships
between variables. Data were obtained using psychological scales to measure the variables and
were analyzed using statistical analyses. Multiple regression analysis was used to undersand
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whether health self-regulation and self-compassion significantly predict COVID-19 preventive
behavior.
Procedure
A literature review was conducted before the study to understand the role of health self-
regulation and self-compassion in health behaviors. We then prepared the instruments to measure
the variables, developed the COVID-19 preventive behavior questionnaire and, conducted informed
consent for the participants. We acquired the permission from the authors to use the instruments for
research purposes. We also received institutional ethics committee approval for this study.
After the instruments were ready, we prepared the online survey form and then the
participants were invited through social media. Participants indicated their consent before being able
to access the questionnaire and were offered an opportunity to participate in a draw of IDR 50.000
(equal to US$ 3) for 30 participants as compensation for their participations. The data retrieved from
the online survey were then analyzed using JASP.
Instruments
Health self-regulation
The Indonesian version of Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) (Watson et al.,
1988; Yusainy & Wicaksono, 2019) and health self-efficacy subscale of Control Beliefs Inventory
(CBI; Sirois, 2003) were used to measure participants’ health self-regulation according to Sirois’
(2015) model. PANAS is a self-report questionnaire measuring 10 positive and 10 negative affect
states (e.g., ‘Interested’, ‘Excited’, ‘Strong’ for positive affect; ‘Distressed’, ‘Irritable’, ‘Scared’ for
negative affect). Participants indicated their degree of agreement for each item on a Likert scale
ranging from 1 (Little or not at all) to 5 (Very). Indonesian version of PANAS indicates good
reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha > .84; Yusainy et al., 2019) for both positive and negative affect.
Cronbach’s Alpha for the current sample is .828 and .872 for positive and negative affect,
respectively.
Health self-efficacy subscale of CBI is a self-report questionnaire measuring the perception
of self-ability in maintaining health. The subscale consists of eight items in which participants were
asked to indicate agreement using a Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 6 (Strongly
Agree). In the original scale, health self-efficacy subscale of CBI shows good reliability
Jurnal Psikologi Ulayat: Indonesian Journal of Indigenous Psychology (2021), X(X), XX-XX
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(Cronbach’s Alpha > .84; Sirois, 2003, 2015). For this study, we translated the scale using forward
translation. In the current sample, Cronbach’s Alpha for the translation of the subscale is .783.
Self-compassion
A short version of Skala Welas Diri (SWD; Sugianto et al., 2020), an Indonesian version of
Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003), was used to measure self-compassion. The selection of items
on SWD for the short version was selected according to Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS-
SF; Raes et al., 2011), consisting of 12 items measuring six components of self-compassion (self-
kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and overidentification).
Participants were asked to indicate agreement on each item on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (Almost
never) to 5 (Almost always). The long version of SWD shows good composite reliability
(MacDonald’s ω = .873), whereas the original SCS-SF also shows good reliability (Cronbach’s
Alpha > .60 for each subscale). MacDonald’s ω for translated SCS-SF in this sample is .804.
COVID-19 Preventive Behavior
A nine-item self-report questionnaire was developed to measure the incidence of COVID-19
preventive behavior according to WHO suggestion (2020b), such as physical distancing,
handwashing, and droplet-avoiding behavior. Each item was responded through a Likert scale
ranging from 1 (Never) to 4 (Always). The questionnaire showed adequate reliability in the current
sample (Cronbach’s Alpha = .758). The blueprint of the questionnaire is presented in Table 2.
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Table 2.
Blueprint of COVID-19 Preventive Behavior Questionnaire
No.
Item description
Item-total
correlation
1.
Dalam seminggu terakhir, saya mencuci tangan secara menyeluruh dengan air
dan sabun setiap kali menyentuh/memegang sesuatu. [In the past week, I washed
my hands thoroughly with water and soap every time I touch/grab something]
.533
2.
Dalam seminggu terakhir, saya membersihkan tangan dengan cairan dengan
kandungan alkohol minimal 60% jika tidak terdapat air dan sabun. [In the past
week, I cleaned my hands with a solution containing minimum 60% alcohol when
there are no water and soap].
.636
3.
Dalam seminggu terakhir, saya membersihkan permukaan benda-benda dengan
disinfektan. [In the past week, I cleaned surfaces with disinfectant].
.562
4.
Dalam seminggu terakhir, ketika saya bersin, saya menutupi mulut saya dengan
menggunakan lengan atau tisu. [In the past week, I covered my mouth with elbow
or tissue every time I sneeze]
.448
5.
Dalam seminggu terakhir, saya berusaha untuk tidak menyentuh hidung, mata, dan
mulut jika belum membersihkan tangan. [In the past week, I tried not to touch my
nose, eyes, and mouth when I haven’t washed my hands]
.440
6.
Dalam seminggu terakhir, saya menjaga jarak saya dengan orang lain setidaknya
1 meter. [In the past week, I keep my distance with others within at least 1 meter in
range].
.523
7.
Dalam seminggu terakhir, saya tetap tinggal di rumah jika tidak ada keperluan
mendesak. [In the past week, I stayed at home when there were no urgent matters].
.224
8.
Dalam seminggu terakhir, saya mengenakan masker apabila saya mengalami
gejala flu atau sesak nafas. [In the past week, I used mask when I have symptoms
of flu or difficulty in breathing].
.426
9.
Ketika saya memiliki gejala demam, sesak nafas, dan batuk, saya membuat janji
temu sebelum pergi ke pusat layanan kesehatan terdekat. [If I have fever, difficulty
in breathing, and cough, I make an appointment before I go to the nearest
healthcare center].
.301
Analysis Technique
Bivariate correlation was used to explore the relationship among measured variables.
Multiple regression was used to test the hypothesis that health self-regulation and self-compassion
predicts COVID-19 preventive behavior. The test of normality of residuals, homoscedasticity, and
multicollinearity were conducted before the multiple regression analysis.
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ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
Table 3 summarizes the correlations, means, and standard deviations of the variables.
Table 3.
Correlations, Means, and Standard Deviations of the Measured Variables
Variables
M
SD
1
2
3
4
5
6
1. Age
32.224
9.763
-
2. PB
27.809
4.574
.155**
-
3. PA
33.219
6.450
.215***
.109*
-
4. NA
22.940
7.363
-.287***
-.143**
-.316***
-
5. HSE
36.109
4.945
.139**
.126*
.379***
-.482***
-
6. SCS
3.446
.582
.136**
.188***
.413***
-.481***
.448***
-
Note: * = Significant at .05 level; ** = Significant at .01 level; *** = Significant at .001 level; PB = COVID-19
Preventive Behavior Questionnaire; PA = Positive Affect; NA = Negative Affect; HSE = Health Self-
Efficacy subscale of Control Belief Inventory; SCS = Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form
Bivariate correlations among the variables show that COVID-19 preventive behavior has
significant positive correlations with age, positive affect, health self-efficacy, self-compassion and a
significant negative correlation with negative affect. These imply that older individuals, individuals
with higher levels of positive affect, health self-efficacy, self-compassion and lower levels of
negative affect tend to display more frequent COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Self-compassion has
significant positive correlations with positive affect, health self-efficacy, and a significant negative
correlation with negative affect. Individuals with higher level of self-compassion report higher level
of positive affect, health self-efficacy, and lower level of negative affect.
Health self-regulation and self-compassion were independently regressed to COVID-19
preventive behavior. Results of multiple regression of health self-regulation (as indicated by
positive affect, negative affect, and health self-efficacy) to COVID-19 preventive behavior show
that health self-regulation significantly predicts 2.7% variance of COVID-19 preventive behavior
(F(3,362) = 3.395, p = .018). Linear regression analysis shows that self-compassion significantly
predicts 3.5% variance of COVID-19 preventive behavior (F(1,364) = 13.345, p < .001).
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Table 4.
Multiple Regression of Variables to COVID-19 Preventive Behavior
Variables
Intercept
R2
ΔR2
F
β
t
Sig.
23.348
.04
.03
3.778
8.025
<.001
SCS
1.095
2.196
.029
PA
.016
.390
.697
NA
-.034
-.885
.337
HSE
.026
.451
.653
Note: SCS = Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form; PA = Positive Affect; NA = Negative Affect; HSE = Health
Self-Efficacy subscale of Control Belief Inventory
Table 4 presents multiple regression from health self-regulation (as indicated by positive
affect, negative affect, and health self-efficacy) and self-compassion to COVID-19 preventive
behavior. Self-compassion and health self-regulation predict 3% variance of COVID-19 preventive
behavior (F(4,361) = 3.778, p = .005). The regression equation for self-compassion and health self-
efficacy to COVID-19 preventive behavior is Y (COVID-19 preventive behavior) = 23.348 +
(1.095*self-compassion) + (.016*positive affect) – (.034*negative affect) + (.026*health self-
efficacy). The results suggest that higher levels of self-compassion and health self-regulation
predict higher prevalence of COVID-19 preventive behavior by 3%. However, positive affect,
negative affect, and health self-efficacy do not independently predict COVID-19 preventive
behavior when they were analyzed with self-compassion. This suggests that when self-compassion
is hold constant, positive affect, negative affect, and health self-efficacy individually do not predict
COVID-19 preventive behavior. These components of health self-regulation and self-compassion
jointly predict COVID-19 preventive behavior.
DISCUSSION
The results showed that health self-regulation and self-compassion predicted COVID-19
preventive behavior among the Indonesian sample. This suggests that higher levels of health self-
regulation and self-compassion prompt COVID-19 preventive behavior. This finding confirms
previous studies which found that health self-regulation and self-compassion predict health
behavior (Biber & Ellis, 2017; Jackson et al., 2010; Osborn et al., 2010; Petrovic et al., 2011; Sirois
et al., 2015).
Health self-regulation and self-compassion enable a person to deal with the pandemic's
adverse effects and its behavioral consequences. Health self-regulation involves managing negative
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affect and improving positive affect, which interplay with health self-efficacy serving as an internal
resource in adopting and maintaining a health behavior (Mann et al., 2013), for example the
adherence to health protocols to avoid COVID-19 infection. Self-compassion plays an integral part
in managing these negative and positive affects and inducing perceived control of the situation
(Sirois, 2015). Furthermore, self-compassion accompanied by health self-regulation helps people to
focus on their behavior when dealing with negative affect and uncertainty during the pandemic.
Self-compassion is inducing negative emotions that are enacted by stressful situations
(Kirschner et al., 2019). Thus, for personal and community protection during the COVID-19
pandemic, individual actively initiates and maintains health behavior. Self-compassion was found
related to empathy and prosocial behavior (e.g., Neff & Pommier, 2013; Welp & Brown, 2013).
Also, it facilitates coping behavior towards stressor (Neff & Germer, 2017).
This study also found that age is positively correlated with COVID-19 preventive behavior.
As age also significantly correlates with health self-regulation and self-compassion, the relationship
between age and COVID-19 preventive behavior may be due to the increase of self-compassion and
health self-regulation. As a person gets older and experiences many adversities, the person may
learn to cope with health-related issues and is more ready to adopt health behavior. Moreover, older
age was related to more risk perception and less intention to engage in risky behavior (Bonem et al.,
2015). These explain the increasing prevalence of COVID-19 preventive behavior in older
participants.
The results suggest that increased health self-regulation and self-compassion predict a
higher prevalence of COVID-19 preventive behavior. Interventions to improve health self-
regulation and self-compassion may facilitate the management of negative emotions resulting from
the pandemic and the engagement to health behavior to flatten the pandemic curve. A study
evaluating the effectiveness of such intervention may contribute to the pandemic and prospective
communicable disease mitigations.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusion
This study found that self-compassion and health self-regulation predicts COVID-19
preventive behavior. Higher levels of self-compassion and health self-regulation predict a higher
prevalence of COVID-19 preventive behavior, and vice-versa.
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Theoretical Recommendations
Future studies can examine the impact of health self-regulation and self-compassion
interventions to COVID-19 or preventive behaviours of other transmissible diseases. Another study
may examine the mechanism of how health self-regulation and self-compassion predict COVID-19
preventive behavior. Understanding this mechanism can aid the mitigation of COVID-19 or other
transmissible diseases.
Practical Recommendations
Improving the levels of self-compassion and health self-regulation may help in promoting
COVID-19 preventive behavior among Indonesians. Health education about self-compassion and
health self-regulation may increase these internal resources, followed by self-compassion and health
self-regulation training. Kelly et al. (2010) found that training cigarette smokers in regulating
themselves through self-compassion resulted in the reduction of daily cigarette consumption.
Similar to that finding, self-compassionate self-regulation training may be designed to promote
COVID-19 preventive behavior.
Social and religious institutions, which hold important position in Indonesian society, may
become agents to promote self-compassion and health self-regulation through social activities.
Online activities such as religious sermons or gathering may incorporate self-compassion and health
self-regulation to aid emotion regulation in obeying COVID-19 health protocols. These activities
may effectively deliver self-compassion and health self-regulation in accessible manner.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We thank Dr. Fuschia Sirois for permission to use the Control Beliefs Inventory. We also thank Fr. Antonius
Sumarwan, SJ, and Dr. Michael Liem for proofreading the manuscript.
FUNDING
This research received no specific funding from any institution.
COMPLIANCE WITH ETHICAL STANDARD
Ethical Statement
All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its
amendments or with comparable ethical standards. The ethical aspect of this study has been reviewed and
approved by Center for Research and Community Development, Universitas Pelita Harapan (Approval No:
P-098-M/FPsi/XI/2020). Informed consent has been obtained from all participants in this study.
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Conflict of Interest
The authors pronounce no conflict of interest in this research.
Data Availability
The datasets used in this study are available from the corresponding author through email.
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