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Table 3 Facilitator (existing supports) subthemes clustered under COM-B components and supporting quotes (Q2)

From: Facilitators and barriers to social distancing for young people during the COVID-19 pandemic

COM-B component

Subthemes

Sample quote

Psychological Capability

Clarity and consistency of guidelines and instructions

Adapting (normal) lifestyle behaviour (include adapting usual forms of communication)

“Restrictions on everybody, clear and visible instructions” (participant 326)

“Limiting how much time I actually spend with people outside my household. The more time you spend with people it’s easy to become used to it and forget about distancing” (participant 268)

Physical Capability

Social Opportunity

Actions of others as an incentive

“Having friends that are strict as well. If majority of people don’t, it makes you feel self conscious” (participant 15)

Physical Opportunity

Environmental support for social distancing: cues and space

“Rules in shops, tape on floors etc. that give me guides on where I should be standing.” (participant 159)

Automatic Motivation

Enforcement and perceived repercussions of not social distancing

“If it’s a legal requirement” (participant 1)

Reflective Motivation

Awareness of risk of transmission

“The knowledge that it is the right thing to do to keep people safe.” (participant 349)

  1. Note. ‘-‘denotes absence of data to ort the aligned COM component