Gökmen, YunusTuren, UfukErdem, HalukTokmak, İsmail2022-06-162022-06-1620211935-7893https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-medicine-and-public-health-preparedness/article/national-preferred-interpersonal-distance-curbs-the-spread-of-covid19-a-crosscountry-analysis/601183C8D7F6BE462CEA722008B0D0F0http://hdl.handle.net/11727/7046Objectives: National interpersonal distance preference is considered a cultural characteristic. Interpersonal distance is critical for the spread dynamics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19's spread trend shows various characteristics in different countries. We believe that 1 of the factors influencing this variation could be national interpersonal distance preference. Methods: We used regression analysis based on data of national interpersonal distance preferences (social, personal, and intimate) presented by Sorokowska et al. and COVID-19 rate of spread data for 40 different countries that were calculated using Our World in Data's data. Results: National interpersonal distance preferences, with its 3 dimensions, significantly influence the rate of spread of COVID-19 in countries. Conclusion: Understanding the relation between national interpersonal distance preference and spread of COVID-19 might be very useful information in decision-making processes of individuals, societies, and governments to develop culturally well-suited counter-pandemic policies, strategies, and procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic or any epidemic or pandemic threats in the future, instead of standard fit-to-all strategies.enginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesscorona virusCOVID-19interpersonal distancepandemicssocial distancingarticle156E20E260007539754000072-s2.0-85094831661