Do Students’ Personality Characteristics Predict COVID-19 Safety Measures Compliance? Evidence from University Students at University of Dar es Salaam

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the predictability of personality characteristics on COVID-19 safety measures compliance. Specifically, the study aimed at examining the influence of agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, extraversion, openness to experiences on COVID-19 safety measures compliance. The study is based on cross-sectional research design whereby data were collected from university students. Through a questionnaire survey, data were collected from 450 university students at the University of Dar es Salaam. Based on SmartPLS estimates, it was found that four students’ personality characteristics i.e. agreeableness, conscientiousness, extraversion and openness to experiences significantly predict COVID-19 safety measures compliance. The study revealed that agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experiences have a positive prediction on COVID19 safety measures compliance. Moreover, the study revealed that extraversion personality has a negative prediction on COVID-19 safety measures compliance. However, the study failed to establish the predictability of emotional stability as one of students’ personality characteristics on COVID-19 safety measures compliance. The study suggests a unique perspective on the predictability of personality characteristics on COVID-19 safety measures thus complementing previous studies based on university students’ perspective. The positive predictability of agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experiences as well as the negative predictability of extraversion on COVID19 safety measures compliance tend to increase the soundness of personality characteristics in complying with established standards. Thus, understanding personality characteristics of people such as university students is essential in determining the extent of COVID-19 safety measures compliance.