Abstract
BackgroundOlder adults are at a higher risk from COVID-19. Individual preventive behaviors including frequent hand washing, mask wearing, and social distancing play important roles in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 in the community. This study aimed to identify the determinants of three preventive behaviors of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic by using an Integrated Social Cognition Model.MethodsUsing a prospective study design, 516 Chinese older adults from Hubei province of China (mean age = 67.55 years, SD = 6.60, 57.9% females) completed two online questionnaire surveys. The demographics, social cognition constructs (motivational self-efficacy, risk perception, attitude, subjective norm, health knowledge, intention, volitional self-efficacy, planning, action control) and three preventive behaviors were measured during the first-wave online survey from 18 May 2020 to 7 June 2020. One month later, three preventive behaviors were measured again during the second-wave online survey. Data were analyzed by structural equation modelling.ResultsModels showed attitude, motivational self-efficacy and subjective norm were consistent predictors of intention, motivational self-efficacy was a consistent predictor of volitional self-efficacy, planning and volitional self-efficacy were consistent predictors of action control, and health knowledge was a consistent predictor of behaviors across all three preventive behaviors. In addition, mediating relationships were found in the model of hand washing behavior. In particular, planning (β = .109, p = .042) and action control (β = .056, p = .047) mediated between volitional self-efficacy and hand washing respectively. Action control also mediated between planning and hand washing (β = .087, p = .044). Moreover, the inclusion of past behaviors in three models attenuated most of the structural relations.ConclusionsThe current study’s findings basically supported the Integrated Social Cognition Model and identified key modifiable determinants of preventive behaviors. Based on this model, future interventions aiming to promote COVID-19 preventive behaviors among older adults are warranted.
Highlights
IntroductionIndividual preventive behaviors including frequent hand washing, mask wearing, and social distancing play important roles in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 in the community
Older adults are at a higher risk from COVID-19
As a vulnerable population group, older adults have suffered the most, accounting for nearly 75% of the COVID-19 relevant mortality globally [1, 2]. It has been advocated by many health authorities that the transmission of COVID-19 can be reduced by performing individual preventive behaviors including hand washing (HW), mask wearing (MW) and social distancing (SoD) [3, 4]
Summary
Individual preventive behaviors including frequent hand washing, mask wearing, and social distancing play important roles in reducing the transmission of COVID-19 in the community. As a vulnerable population group, older adults have suffered the most, accounting for nearly 75% of the COVID-19 relevant mortality globally [1, 2]. It has been advocated by many health authorities that the transmission of COVID-19 can be reduced by performing individual preventive behaviors including hand washing (HW), mask wearing (MW) and social distancing (SoD) [3, 4]. Given the above, identifying determinants of preventive behaviors that are potentially modifiable by interventions is an efficacious approach to promote the enactment of such behaviors
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