The effect of mortality salience, self-efficacy, relatedness and autonomy on health protective thoughts during the COVID-19 pandemic

The aim of this thesis was to examine whether health protective behaviors (HPBs) required during the COVID-19 pandemic are influenced within the frameworks of Terror Management Theory (TMT) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Three studies were conducted within this scope, examining selfefficacy, relatedness, and autonomy within these two theoretical frameworks. In Study 1, the variables of death salience and self-efficacy were examined with a 2X2 design. It was expected that participants in the death salience group with high self-efficacy would exhibit more health protective behaviors, and these two variables would show an interaction effect. In Study 2, the impact of death salience and relatedness variables on health protective behavior was investigated. It was expected that the group with death salience and high relatedness would demonstrate more health protective behaviors, and there would be an interaction effect between the two variables, and this relationship was examined with a 2X2 design. In all three studies, attempts were made to measure the impact of individuals' self-esteem, tolerance for uncertainty, emotions, and momentary anxiety states on health protective behavior. In Study 1, conducted close to the date of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was found that death salience manipulation did not have an effect. However, in Studies 2 and 3, death salience manipulation worked in line with the literature, and participants under this condition generated more health protective ideas than those in the control one. No difference was found in terms of health protective ideas in all three studies regarding the components of SDT, including self-efficacy, relatedness, and autonomy. These findings are discussed in the conclusion section. KEYWORDS: Terror Management Theory, Self-Determination Theory, SelfEfficacy, Relatedness, Autonomy, Health Protective Behavior, Covid-19.