Risk perception, decision-making, and risk communication in the time of COVID-19.

Abstract

After first being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization [WHO], (2020) in March 2020, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread rapidly and in the process altered our very way of life. At the same time, it became increasingly clear that a wide range of new behavioral science research was necessary to understand fully how people comprehend and respond to such an unprecedented and long lasting health threat as COVID-19. One of the primary aims for this Special Issue was to gather and publish that research. The studies contained in this Special Issue, conducted between April 2020 and March 2021, were selected to represent experimental research that is relevant to this unique situation and that also inform and extend existing theory. These studies investigate three broad topics: Risk perception, decision-making under risk, and risk communication in the context of COVID-19. Collectively, they advance our knowledge of risk calibration, health communication interventions, and decisions about behaviors that address risk in the context of a global health threat. Perhaps most importantly they also make a practical contribution to how we approach these issues going forward. Public Significance StatementThis article provides an overview to a collection of research studies conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic that advance our knowledge of risk perception, decisions about behaviors that address risk, health communication interventions in the context of a global health threat. Perhaps most importantly they also make a practical contribution to how we approach these issues going forward.

(Why) Is Misinformation a Problem?

“…The most commonly referenced behavioral effects pertain to health behaviors in response to false claims (e.g., antivaccine movements, speculated vaccine-autism link, genetically modified mosquitos and the Zika virus, COVID-19; Bode & Vraga, 2017; Bronstein et al, 2021; Galanis et al, 2021; Gangarosa et al, 1998; Greene & Murphy, 2021; Joslyn et al, 2021; Kadenko et al, 2021; Loomba et al, 2021; Muğaloğlu et al, 2022; van der Linden et al, 2020; Van Prooijen et al, 2021; Xiao & Wong, 2020). The same association has also been made between misinformation associated with anthropogenic climate change and resistance to adopting proenvironmental behaviors (Gimpel et al, 2020; Soutter et al, 2020).…”

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control awareness creation and risk communication of Covid-19 pandemic amongst non-literate population in south-west Nigeria: lessons for future health campaign

“…For non-literates, a campaign must therefore transcend beyond awareness creation about a public health emergency, to explaining the danger of such an event via visual illustrations. Risk perception is beneficial because it catalyzes taking protective action on a health issue ( 15 ). Since the ultimate goal of the NCDC is to see the disease effectively managed, communication must move from awareness creation to risk communication enough for people to perceive the event as a threat to influence behavioral change.…”

“…The outcomes of risk perception are believed to be beneficial because they serve as a prerequisite to protective behaviors. A genuine perception of personal risk is necessary to take protective action, thereby catalyzing behavior change ( 12 , 15 ). In times of crisis, processing information becomes difficult as a result of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty, and these factors cannot be ignored by risk communicators when communicating risk to people; the result is mental noise.…”

Politics of problem definition: Comparing public support of climate change mitigation policies using machine learning

“…Interventions, such as public communication campaigns, which attempt to increase risk perceptions about climate change may result in increased support for renewable energy policy options. Research shows that risk communication effectiveness depends on formats, with graphical formats often more effective, and should be targeted based on differing levels of numeracy (Joslyn et al, 2021; Keller & Siegrist, 2009).…”

“…Related research notes that this effect is driven in part by conservative ideologies (McCright & Dunlap, 2011b). While these studies suggest risk perceptions may be somewhat innate and immutable, the robust body of research on risk communication and risk perceptions suggest perceptions and behaviors are possible to change (Gerrard et al, 1999; Joslyn et al, 2021; Keller & Siegrist, 2009; Vernon, 1999).…”