A patriot and a nationalist walk into a bar during the COVID-19 pandemic: Who survives?

This study examined how patriotism and nationalism predicted individuals' compliance with COVID-19 health restrictions, vaccine acceptance, and trust in related information in Latvia. Using a nationally representative sample (N = 1005), we found that patriotism was positively associated with trust in government and greater willingness to follow public health measures, while nationalism predicted greater distrust in vaccine information and lower compliance. These findings highlight how different forms of national identity can either support or undermine public health efforts during crises. The study's implications suggest that appeals to patriotic values may enhance trust and collective action, whereas nationalist attitudes may obstruct such efforts. While the findings are culturally specific to Latvia and based on cross-sectional data, they underscore the importance of ideological factors in shaping public responses to health emergencies.