Risk perception and COVID-19 preventive behaviors: application of the integrative model of behavioral prediction

Abstract

Preventing the COVID-19 outbreak primarily depends on individuals' willingness to adopt social distancing and mask wearing behaviors. However, little is known about what drives individuals to adopt these behaviors. Guided by the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction, this study surveyed 590 adults in the US during the early stages of the outbreak to identify factors influencing intentions to practice social distancing and wear masks. Structural equation modeling results show that while attitudes are positively associated with intentions to perform both behaviors, perceived norms are positively associated with intentions to wear masks, and self-efficacy is positively associated with intentions to practice social distancing. Additionally, results indicate that adding personal risk perception and societal risk perception as distal variables increases the model's predictive power. Results reveal that while social risk perception is positively associated with attitudes, perceived norms, and self-efficacy for both behaviors, personal risk perception is negatively associated with attitudes toward mask wearing, and perceived norms and self-efficacy for both behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Factors Affecting COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors among University Students in Beijing, China: An Empirical Study Based on the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior

“…The recent literature has demonstrated the significance of the three TPB components in predicting a series of preventive behaviors for COVID-19. For example, Duong et al [ 38 ] found that citizens’ attitudes exerted a positive and significant effect on both social distancing behavior and mask wearing behavior in the U.S. Chen and Chen [ 39 ] found that attitudes and subjective norms had a significant and positive influence on individuals’ preventive behaviors for COVID-19 among 1591 residents in China. Prasetyo et al [ 22 ] revealed the positive impacts of the three TPB variables on the intention to follow preventive measures for COVID-19 in a sample in the Philippines.…”

Relationships among COVID-19 Prevention Practices, Risk Perception and Individual Characteristics: A Temporal Analysis

“…Behavioral studies have adopted different conceptual frameworks (e.g., References [7][8][9]) to illustrate the relationship between different types of risk perception and prevention measures of infectious diseases. Risk perception is generally defined as subjective judgments of a negative outcome associated with a risk [10], including different dimensions, such as cognitive, emotional, affective, personal, and societal risk perceptions [11,12]. Controlled for different individual variables, the results generally suggested that a high-risk perception of a disease is associated with an increased likelihood of practicing certain health behaviors [12].…”

“…Risk perception is generally defined as subjective judgments of a negative outcome associated with a risk [10], including different dimensions, such as cognitive, emotional, affective, personal, and societal risk perceptions [11,12]. Controlled for different individual variables, the results generally suggested that a high-risk perception of a disease is associated with an increased likelihood of practicing certain health behaviors [12]. In spatial and geographical sciences, it is well-recognized that human mobility is crucial in shaping disease transmission [13][14][15] To understand the factors shaping the mobility-related prevention of an infectious disease, studies have revealed that a higher risk perception is associated with reduced mobility [16][17][18].…”

“…The boundaries between mandatory, recommended, and voluntary prevention practices are constantly shifting in the changing public health contexts across timelines. For example, mask wearing raised controversies during the early stage but became a mandate in a later stage when more scientific evidence became available [12]. Recent studies suggest that voluntary prevention behaviors during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic were critical in containing the disease, yet vastly understudied [30].…”

Mental health issues and health disparities amid COVID-19 outbreak in China: Comparison of residents inside and outside the epicenter

“…It is noteworthy that facemasks are widely perceived by the general public as the most efficacious preventive measure against the COVID-19 virus, serving as a strong “psychological symbol” or an effective form of protection against the anxiety imposed by the pandemic (e.g., Duong et al, 2021 ; Guo et al, 2020 ) . The alleviation of anxiety symptoms related to COVID-19 is critical for the disease prevention efforts.…”