Beyond self-reports: Exploring the disconnect between subjective behavioural correlates, self-reported adherence, and objective behaviour using network analysis

There is often a discrepancy between people's intentions to engage in protective behaviours and their objective actions, known as the intention-behaviour gap. This study investigated the relationships between behavioural correlates (attitudes, habits, beliefs, norms, intentions, risk-perception, worries, and perceived health) and self-reported behaviour in predicting objectively determined behaviour, using physical distancing during COVID-19 as a case study. Data were collected from 565 visitors of a Dutch art fair in August 2020, including pre-event questionnaires, objectively determined behaviour during the event, and post-event self-reports. Regression and Gaussian Graphical Model analyses revealed that self-reports were poor predictors of objectively determined behaviour. Among behavioural correlates, only perceived health showed a weak association with objective behaviour. These results demonstrate a marked disconnect between intentions, self-reports, and actual behaviour, underscoring the necessity of incorporating objective measures in public health policy design and evaluation.