Exploring the impacts of media use and media trust on health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

Yi Wu,Fei Shen

doi:10.1177/1359105321995964

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of traditional media, social media, and media trust on people's compliance with health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. A total of 3000 Chinese adults filled online questionnaire using quota sampling method. Results show that use of central government media and use of WeChat are positively related to compliance with health behaviors, while use of local media and use of Weibo are negatively related to the levels of compliance. In addition, trust in the media amplified the effects of media use on levels of compliance.

Highlights

In December 2019, a local outbreak of acute respiratory syndrome with unknown etiology, later identified as COVID-19, was detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
The present study aims to investigate the impacts of different media outlets, and the contingent effects of media trust on compliance of individual health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in China
The study aims to investigate the relationship between media use, media trust and individuals’ compliance with health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in China

Summary

Introduction

In December 2019, a local outbreak of acute respiratory syndrome with unknown etiology, later identified as COVID-19, was detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The virus quickly spread to other regions in China, with more than 14,000 confirmed cases and 304 deaths as of 1 February 2020. The Chinese government took various measures to contain the virus, including case isolation, contact tracing, environmental disinfection, etc. Among all the measures to combat the virus, personal prevention is of particular importance. According to the prevention guidelines published by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), the recommended behaviors included wearing face masks, washing hands frequently with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes with tissues, avoiding touching eyes/nose/mouth with unwashed hands, avoiding contacting with affected person, and maintaining social distance (China CDC, 2020)

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