Health or wealth? The influence of perceived health and wealth threats and style of thinking on protective behaviours and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain (¿Salud o riqueza? La influencia de las amenazas percibidas contra la salud y la riqueza y del estilo de pensamiento en las conductas de protección y el bienestar durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en España)

ABSTRACT

The present research explored the influence of thinking style and the perception of threats to health and wealth on protective actions and well-being within the framework of the first wave of COVID-19 in Spain. We expected that an abstract (versus concrete) thinking style would be related to greater protective behaviours while maintaining a higher sense of well-being. Through an online questionnaire (N = 1,043), we explored these relationships and found that the most severe perceived threats to health and wealth and the highest degree of abstraction were associated with the greatest protective behaviours. Importantly, when people did not feel very threatened, those who thought abstractly reported more protective behaviours. Regarding well-being, when people perceived greater threats, those who had an abstract thinking style reported greater well-being. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the present research provides support indicating that an abstract thinking style is a protective factor against adversities because it is related to protective behaviours and increased well-being even when people perceive severe health and wealth threats.