Alarming data on attitudes and practices toward COVID-19 – changes during the 1 st, 2nd and 3rd waves of the pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Abstract This manuscript presents the results research into support for the social restrictions and the application of preventive measures during the first, second and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted three times between March, 2020 and April 2021 in Poland, via the Internet using the Google Forms platform. We used self-developed questionnaires to measure support for restrictions and compliance with preventive behaviors. Both tools demonstrated adequate validity and reliability. Support for the restrictions and application of the preventive measures were statistically significantly higher during the first wave than during waves II and III. Women, younger people, individuals with higher economic status, higher education, and less work experience were more likely to support the implemented restrictions and reported greater compliance with preventive measures, especially during the third wave. A higher level of compliance with COVID-19 recommendations was not associated with poorer self-rated health or belonging to a high-risk group, but was related to a higher perceived fear of infection. The correlation between the assessment of the possibility of obtaining information about COVID-19 and support for social restrictions was significant during each wave, and its strength increased over the course of the pandemic. In summary, social restrictions and preventive measures were increasingly less supported and applied, while the importance of information about COVID-19 grew. Therefore, providing reliable, evidence-based education is essential for shaping attitudes that help reduce adverse health outcomes.