Abstract
In the context of global fighting against the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic, how to promote the public implementation of preventive behavior is the top priority of pandemic prevention and control. This study aimed at probing how the media would affect the public’s preventive behavior and excessive preventive intention accordingly. Data were collected from 653 respondents in the Chinese mainland through online questionnaires and further analyzed by using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Taking risk perception, negative emotions, and subjective norms as mediators, this study explored the impact of mass media exposure and social networking services involvement on preventive behavior and excessive preventive intention. Based on differences in the severity of the pandemic, the samples were divided into the Wuhan group and other regions group for multi-group comparison. The results showed that mass media exposure had a significant positive impact on subjective norms; moreover, mass media exposure could significantly enhance preventive behavior through subjective norms, and social networking services involvement had a significant positive impact on negative emotions; meanwhile, social networking services involvement promoted excessive preventive intention through negative emotions.
Highlights
From December 2019 China’s first novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case identified inWuhan to the very recent 30 August 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported there were nearly 25 million cases and 800,000 deaths in the world, distributed in six continents and more than 200 countries and regions [1], which has become the most serious crisis that the world needs to face.As a new type of coronavirus, COVID-19 has many uncertainties in the route of transmission and treatment
This study focuses on the impact of descriptive norms on preventive behavior, because descriptive norms have a more direct and significant impact on health behaviors than injunctive norms [70], and because of the actual situation of the outbreak of pandemic is taken into account
Common method bias (CMB) is caused by the measurement method rather than the causes or effects of the model; it is a common phenomenon in the context of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)
Summary
From December 2019 China’s first novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case identified in. As a new type of coronavirus, COVID-19 has many uncertainties in the route of transmission and treatment. Different countries have launched strategic battles against the virus in different ways, there is no doubt that publicizing and encouraging the public to undertake effective preventive actions is one of the important measures. It is self-evident that the media plays a critical role in improving public health by keeping people well informed of the health information and encouraging people to take preventive measures [3].
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