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From Mandate to Choice: How Voluntary Mask Wearing Shapes Interpersonal Distance Among University Students After COVID-19

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background/Objectives: As COVID-19 policies shift from government mandates to individual responsibility, understanding how voluntary protective behaviors shape social interactions remains a public health priority. This study examines the association between voluntary mask wearing and interpersonal distance (IPD) preferences in a post-mandate context, focusing on Taiwan, where mask wearing continues to be culturally prevalent. Methods: One hundred university students (50 males, 50 females) in Taiwan completed an online IPD simulation task. Participants adjusted the distance of a virtual avatar in response to targets that varied by gender and mask status. Mask-wearing status upon arrival was recorded naturally, without manipulation. A four-way ANOVA tested the effects of participant gender, participant mask wearing, target gender, and target mask wearing on the preferred IPD. Results: Voluntary mask wearing was more common among female participants (72%) than males (44%). Mask-wearing individuals maintained significantly greater IPDs, suggesting heightened risk perception, whereas masked targets elicited smaller IPDs, possibly due to social signaling of safety. Gender differences emerged in both protective behavior and spatial preferences, with females showing stronger associations between mask use and distancing behavior. Conclusions: These findings offer actionable insights into how voluntary behavioral adaptations continue to shape spatial interaction norms after mandates are lifted. The integration of real-time simulation and statistical modeling highlights the potential of digital behavioral tools to support culturally adaptive, person-centered public health strategies.

Source: Healthcare

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13161956

Authors: Yi-Lang Chen, Che-Wei Hsu, Andi Rahman

Institutions: Ming Chi University of Technology, Quanta Computer (Taiwan), Andalas University

Language: English

Topic: COVID-19 Prevention and Impact

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258