COVID-19 in person's social network: Unravelling the Impact on Youth Motivations and Protective Behaviours during the Initial Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

In the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic young people were believed to be less vulnerable to the disease. The study aimed to explore what motivated youth to comply with recommended preventive behaviour while being in a relatively safe position. Utilising self-reported data from 1,265 students in the beginning of the pandemic we applied structural equation modelling to explore the role of different motivation types (self-interested, prosocial and controlled) in predicting the adherence to a wide range of protective behaviours. We have also explored how the awareness of COVID cases in personal network was associated with perceived risks, motivation and behavioural response to pandemic. Overall among all types of motivation the prosocial one (to protect significant others or to stop spreading disease) better explains all types of protective behaviours. In line with this finding perceived personal risks were less associated with the protective behaviour than motivation variables. Controlled motivation (to comply with external requirements) for the young group was the least significant in predicting behaviour. The independent factor which affects both perceived risks, motivation to comply and preventive behaviour is the presence of the known COVID-19 cases in people’s social network. However, while awareness about severe outcomes positively affects those outcomes, awareness about the mild cases in contrast could decrease the perceived threat of disease and motivation. Our findings highlight that prosocial motivation might be a promising way to engage young people in preventive behaviour as well as the importance for cautiously presenting narrative information about disease outcomes for this audience.