The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated stringent public health policies, leading to varying levels of public acceptance across cultures. Collectivists generally showed higher compliance with preventive measures compared to individualists. This study utilizes Cultural Theory (CT) to understand these differences, arguing that public policy support isn't solely based on cost-benefit analysis but also aligns with individual preferences for societal organization. While CT has been applied extensively in Western contexts, its applicability to China remains under-explored. The study addresses this gap by examining the influence of cultural worldviews on Chinese public attitudes towards government policies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers aim to investigate the validity of existing CT measurement scales in a Chinese context and analyze the mediating role of government trust and the moderating role of risk perception in the relationship between cultural worldviews and policy support. The ultimate goal is to inform communication strategies aimed at fostering trust and managing public health crises effectively.

Cultural Theory (CT), also known as grid-group theory, posits that individuals' beliefs about societal structure (cultural worldviews) shape their attitudes towards policies. Four cultural worldviews are identified: hierarchists (high group, high grid), egalitarians (high group, low grid), individualists (low group, low grid), and fatalists (low group, high grid). Existing measurement scales, such as the Cultural Theory Scale (CTS) and the Cultural Cognition Scale (CCS), have been criticized for limited reliability and validity outside Western contexts, particularly in collectivist societies like China. Previous research suggests that cultural worldviews significantly predict policy support, with hierarchists and egalitarians generally more supportive than individualists and fatalists. However, the mediating role of government trust and the moderating role of risk perception in this relationship need further investigation in the Chinese context. The existing literature showcases the influence of cultural worldviews on policy attitudes in various domains, such as environmental protection and vaccination, but a comprehensive understanding of their impact on pandemic response policies in China is lacking.

This research employed a multi-study approach involving both quantitative surveys and analysis of existing datasets. **Study 1:** Assessed the feasibility of applying existing cultural worldview scales (CTS and CCS) in China. 783 Chinese participants completed translated versions of these scales. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed that neither scale adequately fit the data. A revised four-factor model (hierarchy, egalitarianism, individualism, fatalism) was developed and validated using two sample waves (n=499 and n=277) collected at different times during the pandemic. This revised scale demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity. **Study 2:** Explored the mediating effect of government trust on the relationship between cultural worldviews and policy support using data from the World Values Survey (WVS-7) (n=2868). OLS regression analyses were conducted to examine the direct and indirect effects. **Study 3:** Investigated the moderating role of risk perception on the relationship between cultural worldviews and support for COVID-19 policies using a separate survey (n=277) collected in November 2020. OLS regression and Johnson-Neyman techniques were used to analyze the interaction effects. **Study 4:** Further examined the mediating role of government trust and the moderating role of risk perception using a separate survey (n=499) from February 2020. OLS regression analyses were employed to test the hypothesized relationships.

Study 1 established a revised cultural worldview scale suitable for Chinese samples, demonstrating acceptable reliability and validity across two separate data collections. Study 2, using the WVS data, revealed that hierarchy positively predicted both government trust and policy support. Government trust mediated the positive effect of hierarchy on policy support. Individualism and fatalism negatively predicted policy support, with government trust mediating the relationship for individualism. Study 3, using data from November 2020, showed that hierarchy positively and individualism negatively predicted support for COVID-19 policies. Crucially, the negative impact of fatalism on policy support disappeared under conditions of high-risk perception. Study 4, analyzing data from February 2020, reinforced these findings and demonstrated the mediating role of government trust in the relationship between cultural worldviews and policy support. Additionally, it found that the positive effect of hierarchy on government trust was stronger under high-risk conditions, suggesting a moderating role of risk perception. Statistical analyses across studies employed OLS regression, mediation analysis (PROCESS macro), and moderation analysis, including the Johnson-Neyman technique.

The findings provide strong evidence that cultural worldviews significantly shape attitudes towards government-mandated policies, even in a collectivist culture like China. The consistent positive association between hierarchist worldviews and policy support across studies, further strengthened by the mediating role of government trust, confirms the influence of cultural values on compliance. The negative relationship between individualist and fatalist worldviews and policy support highlights the importance of individual autonomy and perceived control in shaping responses to restrictive measures. The moderating effect of risk perception on fatalism emphasizes the dynamic nature of attitudes, with increased perceived threat leading to greater acceptance of government interventions. The mediating role of government trust underscores the crucial role of trust in institutions in shaping policy support. These findings have implications for risk communication and policy design, emphasizing the importance of tailored communication strategies that address diverse cultural values and foster trust between governments and citizens.

This four-study investigation successfully demonstrates the significant influence of cultural worldviews on public support for government-mandated policies during a public health crisis, even in a collectivist society. The study emphasizes the crucial mediating role of government trust and the moderating influence of risk perception. Future research should investigate the generalizability of these findings across other cultures and examine the long-term effects of cultural worldviews and pandemic experiences on policy attitudes. Exploring alternative mediating variables, such as power distance, would further enhance our understanding of cultural theory’s applicability in collectivist societies. Longitudinal studies are needed to explore the dynamic interplay between cultural worldviews, risk perception, government trust and policy support over time.

While the study provides valuable insights, several limitations should be considered. The revised cultural worldview scale, while validated for the Chinese context, requires further testing in other cultural settings to assess its generalizability. The cross-sectional nature of the studies limits the ability to draw definitive causal inferences; longitudinal studies would strengthen the understanding of the temporal dynamics between cultural worldviews, risk perception, and policy support. The reliance on self-reported data might introduce potential biases. Finally, the specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, with its unique policy responses, might limit the generalizability of the findings to other public health crises or political systems.