Fostering Prosocial Preventive Behaviours Through Awe

Fostering Prosocial Behaviours Against Infectious Diseases Through Awe: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this randomized control trial is to investigate the impact pf awe on prosocial preventive behaviours against infectious diseases among adults from Hong Kong, Singapore, and ten major cities in Mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi'an, Nanjing). The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does experiencing awe increase adults' intentions to engage in prosocial preventive behaviours against infectious diseases, including vaccination, mask wearing, and social distancing?
• Does the impact vary across three research sites?

This study will be conducted as a nested sub-study within a main longitudinal study implemented online. The baseline assessment of the longitudinal study was conducted between October and November 2025. Participants who agreed to be recontacted will be invited to join the randomized controlled trial (RCT) approximately four months after the baseline assessment, in February-March 2026. At that time, participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into either the intervention or control group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults (age ≥18 years) who live in
• Hong Kong, Singapore, and ten major cities in Mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Xi'an, Nanjing) over the past one year
• Able to read and understand written Chinese or English
• Have access to the internet through computers, mobile phones, or tablets

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with cognitive or linguistic difficulties that would prevent them from completing an online survey will be excluded.