The role of risk perception and affective response in the COVID-19 preventive behaviours of young adults: a mixed methods study of university students in the Netherlands

Abstract

ObjectivesDue to an increased infection rate among young adults, they need to adhere to the preventive guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable others. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore the role of risk perception and affective response in the preventive behaviours of young adults during the COVID-19 outbreak.SettingThis study followed a convergent mixed methods design, in which a quantitative online survey (n=1081) and 10 qualitative in-depth semistructured video interviews were conducted separately in the Netherlands during April–August 2020.Participants1081 participants filled in the online survey, and 10 participants participated in the interviews. Eligibility criteria included being a university student.Primary and secondary outcome measuresData on risk perception, affective response, that is, worry, and adherence to preventive guidelines were combined and analysed during this study. There were no secondary outcome measures.ResultsThe results showed that young adults perceived their risk as low. Their affective response for their own well-being was also low; however, their affective response was high with regards to vulnerable others in their surroundings. Due to their high impersonal risk perception (ie, perceived risk to others) and high affective response, young adults adhered to most preventive guidelines relatively frequently. However, young adults sometimes neglected social distancing due to the negative effects on mental health and the uncertainty of the duration of the situation.ConclusionsIn conclusion, high impersonal risk perception and high affective response regarding others are key motivators in young adults’ preventive behaviour. To maximise adherence to the preventive guidelines, risk communication should put emphasis on the benefits to vulnerable others’ health when young adults adhere to the preventive guidelines.

Research on the Intervention and Prevention of College Students' Mental Health Crisis From the Perspective of Ideological and Physical Education

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The effects of moral norms and anticipated guilt on COVID19 prevention behaviors

“…Communities surrounding large universities were found to be more at risk for the spread of COVID-19 (Leidner et al, 2021). But studies have found that younger audiences are less likely to feel at risk for COVID-19 (Boehmer et al, 2020;Kollmann et al, 2022). Those studies showed, as would be predicted, older adolescents were less likely to engage in all COVID-19 prevention behaviors (Luo et al, 2021).…”

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Trends and prevalence of suicide 2017–2021 and its association with COVID-19: Interrupted time series analysis of a national sample of college students in the United States

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