Abstract
This study aims to explore and compare the influences of two crucial information channels used by middle-aged parents—media and their adult children—on their health knowledge, emotions and preventive behaviors against COVID-19, based on media exposure and the family communication patterns (FCP) theory. Parents of college students in Guangzhou, China were invited to participate in an online survey between February 10 and 24, 2020. A total of 193 respondents, aged between 40 and 65 years, completed the study questionnaire. Media exposure was a positive predictor of negative emotions, intergenerational discussions, and preventive behaviors among Chinese middle-aged parents. Conversation orientation was a positive predictor of scientific discussions and preventive behaviors, whereas conformity orientation was a negative predictor of knowledge, but a positive predictor of intergenerational discussions and negative emotions. Intergenerational discussions mediated the relationships between media exposure and preventive behaviors, as well as between FCP and preventive behaviors. Health communication efforts require the help of adult children as intergenerational communication serves as an important amplifier in terms of influencing the health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of middle-aged and elderly populations.
Highlights
The middle-aged and elderly generation comprises a high-risk population for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic [1] because they have suffered physical vulnerabilities, and psychosocial stress and social isolation, during the pandemic [2].Since, at present, there is no effective treatment for COVID-19 [3], it is important to promote preventive behaviors—maintaining social distance and wearing masks—through health communication campaigns [4,5]
Our results suggest that both media exposure and scientific discussions between parents and their adult children were positively associated with two preventive behaviors, but disputed communication between parents and their adult children was associated with less health knowledge, less compliance in social distancing, and an increase in negative emotions
This study has examined the preventive behaviors against COVID-19 among the Chinese middle-aged and elderly populations from an intergenerational communication perspective
Summary
At present, there is no effective treatment for COVID-19 [3], it is important to promote preventive behaviors—maintaining social distance and wearing masks—through health communication campaigns [4,5]. Middle-aged and elderly generations demonstrate higher hesitancy towards receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, which is the most effective preventive measure at present [6]. Well-designed health messages and accurately targeted communication channels are two key factors for effective public health campaigns [7]. Recent studies have explored the pathologic mechanisms and psychological consequences of elderly patients [8], as well as health message strategies for COVID-19 [9], while few have explored effective health communication channels, especially for the middle-aged or older generations [10].
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