Information-Seeking and Risk Perception to Explain Infection-Prevention Behaviors: Conditional Analysis on Trust in Media and Government as Moderator.

Abstract

This study aims to explore how the relationship between information-seeking and infection-prevention behaviors through risk perception changes according to the level of trust in the media and government. The study is a secondary data analysis of data from a cross-sectional national survey of 700 adults living in the community, representing different age groups, genders, and geographic regions. A validated questionnaire was used to assess information-seeking behaviors, trust in media and government, and risk perception to explain infection-prevention behaviors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A conditional analysis was conducted using SPSS and PROCESS macro (Model 7) to identify the effect of moderated mediation. The participants were fairly balanced by gender and age group. Most participants learned about COVID-19 through major broadcasts and television (56.7%) followed by internet media (21.7%). Information-seeking and risk perception together explained 17% of the variance in infection-prevention behaviors (F=63.95, p<0.01). The standardized indirect effect (β=0.04, BootCI 0.02, 0.06) was significant at 95% CI. The moderated mediation index (M=-0.04, CI -0.05, -0.01) indicates that trust in media and government influences the effect of information-seeking on risk perception and infection-prevention behavior even after controlling for age and gender. Information-seeking behaviors affect infection-prevention behaviors directly and indirectly through risk perception. Trust in media and government modulates this relationship, emphasizing the importance of establishing trust to promote effective risk communication and long-term public compliance with infection-prevention practices. Health authorities should focus on building trust through transparent risk communication and integrating diverse media perspectives. Further research is needed to explore the psychological and social mechanisms underlying trust in media and government through qualitative, cross-cultural comparisons.