Public Health and Social Behavior: The Role of Social Sciences in Pandemic Response

Abstract

This paper examines the crucial role of social behavior in shaping the effectiveness of public health responses during pandemics, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. While epidemiological models provide essential insights into virus transmission, they often fail to account for social dynamics such as trust in institutions, compliance with health measures, and the spread of misinformation. By analyzing global case studies, particularly in countries like New Zealand and Taiwan, this paper demonstrates how integrating social sciences into public health strategies results in higher compliance and better outcomes. The study underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between social scientists and public health experts in pandemic planning, offering recommendations for policymakers to foster trust, tailor interventions to cultural contexts, and address misinformation effectively. The paper also highlights areas for future research, including the long-term societal impacts of pandemic behaviors and the need for real-time monitoring of social dynamics to enhance public health interventions.