Abstract
ABSTRACT Drawing on the health risk communication literature, this study examined the associations between mass media exposure, social media exposure, fear, risk perception, and mask wearing and staying-at-home behaviours in the initial stages of the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic. Data were collected in two countries: the United States (N = 590) and Vietnam (N = 360). A multi-group path model using structural equation modelling was conducted to analyse the data. Results showed that social media exposure was positively associated with risk perception and prevention behaviours for the Vietnamese participants. American participants’ adoption of prevention behaviours was positively associated with fear, risk perception, and consumption of disease information via both mass media and social media. Findings indicated that distinctiveness in risk communication approaches and media systems between the two countries might differently impact risk perception at the onset of the pandemic.
Published Version
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