COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors Research Articles

Political Affiliation Moderates the Effect of Injunctive Norms on Freedom Threat and Behavioral Intentions: Limiting Indoor Gatherings to Flatten the COVID-19 Curve

ABSTRACT Although many states in the U.S. restricted indoor social gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Fall of 2020, college students’ large social gatherings still caused many cluster infections. The present study aimed to explore whether perceived injunctive norms negatively influence behavioral intentions through perceived freedom threat and anger and to probe the ways that different political party affiliations interact with the normative effects. Undergraduate students were recruited to participate in an online survey (n = 170). Counter to predictions, perceived injunctive norms positively influenced Republican participants’ behavioral intentions through perceived freedom threat and anger. They reported lower perceived freedom threat as perceived injunctive norms increased, whereas Democrat participants reported higher perceived freedom threat as perceived injunctive norms increased. The findings suggested that injunctive social norms campaigns would be more effective for Republican students to promote COVID-19 preventive behaviors as contrasted with Democrat students.

COVID-19 Prevention and Mitigation Decision-Making Processes While Navigating Chronic Disease Care: Perspectives of Black Adults with Heart Failure and Diabetes.

Heart failure and diabetes are comorbidities that disproportionately contribute to high morbidity and mortality among Blacks. Further compounding the racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 health outcomes, Blacks with cardiometabolic diseases are at high risk of experiencing serious complications or mortality from COVID-19. This study aimed to assess how Blacks with heart failure and diabetes navigated chronic care management during the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed methods study including in-depth interviews and surveys with adults diagnosed with heart failure and diabetes (n = 17) was conducted in 2021-2022. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Participants reported that while the pandemic initially caused delays in access to health services, shifts to telemedicine allowed for continued care despite preferences for in-person appointments. Various sources of information were used in different ways to make decisions on how to best reduce health risks due to COVID-19, but individuals and institutions affiliated with science and medicine, or who promoted information from these sources, were considered to be the most trusted sources of information among those who relied on outside guidance when making health-related decisions. Individuals' self-awareness of their own high-risk status and perceived control over their exposure levels to the virus informed what COVID-19 prevention and mitigation strategies people used. Information backed by scientific data was an important health communication tool that alongside other factors, such as fear of mortality due to COVID-19, encouraged individuals to get vaccinated and adopt other COVID-19 prevention and mitigation behaviors.

Community Partner Perceptions of Equitable Implementation Practices for a Promotores de Salud Intervention: A Qualitative Assessment.

We conducted focus groups with staff from 5 community-based organizations (21 participants; 86% female, 52% Hispanic/Latino/a/x and 24% Mexican/Mexican American) between August and October 2021. Results highlighted community partner perceptions of practices congruent (e.g., communication that built trust and dismantled power dynamics, a shared mission) and incongruent (e.g., intervention-community misalignment, research driven decision-making) with equitable implementation in the development, implementation, and evaluation of a promotores de salud intervention to increase COVID-19 testing and preventive behaviors among Latinx communities in Oregon. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S5):S377-S383. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307686).

Factors influencing CDC- recommended preventative behaviors through the COVID-19 pandemic in college students.

Objective: To understand how student perceptions of physical health and generalized concern about infection influenced engagement in COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Participants: 418 full-time undergraduate and graduate students attending a public university in South Carolina, USA. Methods: A self-administered survey was distributed during the 2020-2021 academic year. The health belief model, structural equation modeling, and regression methods were used to evaluate associations between students' perceived physical health and the use of CDC-recommended mitigation strategies. Results: Our findings suggest that an individual's perception of their own physical health impacted engagement in preventive behaviors by influencing concerns about disease severity (p = 0.01) and susceptibility (p = 0.03). However, perceived physical health was not associated with perceived benefits (p = 0.21), barriers (p = 0.57), or self-efficacy (p = 0.62) of mitigation strategies. Conclusions: Intrapersonal factors may play a strong role in the way a student undertakes disease control and prevention.

Racial/ethnic differences in the associations between trust in the U.S. healthcare system and willingness to test for and vaccinate against COVID-19

BackgroundTrust in the healthcare system may impact adherence to recommended healthcare practices, including willingness to test for and vaccinate against COVID-19. This study examined racial/ethnic differences in the associations between trust in the U.S. healthcare system and willingness to test for and vaccinate against COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data from the REACH-US study, a nationally representative online survey conducted among a diverse sample of U.S. adults from January 26, 2021-March 3, 2021 (N = 5,121). Multivariable logistic regression estimated the associations between trust in the U.S. healthcare system (measured as “Always”, “Most of the time”, “Sometimes/Almost Never”, and “Never”) and willingness to test for COVID-19, and willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Racial/ethnic differences in these associations were examined using interaction terms and multigroup analyses.ResultsAlways trusting the U.S. healthcare system was highest among Hispanic/Latino Spanish Language Preference (24.9%) and Asian (16.7%) adults and lowest among Multiracial (8.7%) and Black/African American (10.7%) adults. Always trusting the U.S. healthcare system, compared to never, was associated with greater willingness to test for COVID-19 (AOR: 3.20, 95% CI: 2.38–4.30) and greater willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine (AOR: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.97–3.65).ConclusionsTrust in the U.S. healthcare system was associated with greater willingness to test for COVID-19 and receive the COVID-19 vaccine, however, trust in the U.S. healthcare system was lower among most marginalized racial/ethnic groups. Efforts to establish a more equitable healthcare system that increases trust may encourage COVID-19 preventive behaviors.

COVID-19 vaccination, preventive behaviours and pro-social motivation: panel data analysis from Japan

The COVID-19 vaccine reduces infection risk; even if one contracts COVID-19, the probability of complications such as death or hospitalisation is lower. However, vaccination may prompt people to decrease preventive behaviours, such as staying home, washing hands, and wearing a mask. Therefore, if vaccinated people pursue only self-interest, the vaccine’s effect may be lower than expected. However, if vaccinated people are pro-social (motivated toward benefits for the whole society), they might maintain preventive behaviours to reduce the spread of infection. We conducted 26 surveys almost once a month from March 2020 (the early stage of COVID-19) to September 2022 in Japan. By corresponding with identical individuals, we independently constructed the original panel data (N = 70,908). Based on the data, we identified the timing of the second vaccine shot and compared preventive behaviours before and after vaccination. We investigated whether second-shot vaccination correlated with changes in preventive behaviours. Furthermore, we explored whether the vaccination effect differed between the older and younger groups. We then investigated the effect of pro-social motivation on preventive behaviours. Major findings are as follows: (1) Being vaccinated led people to increase preventive behaviours, such as mask-wearing by 1.04 (95% confidence intervals [Cis]: 0.96–1.11) points, and hand hygiene by 0.34 (95% CIs: 0.30–0.38) points on a 5-point scale. (2) Vaccinated people under 65 are less likely to stay home. (3) People with pro-social motivation to be vaccinated are more likely to maintain prevention than those not so motivated; on a 5-point scale, the difference is 0.08 (95% CIs: 0.01–0.15) points for mask-wearing and 0.05 (95% CIs: 0.001–0.10) points for hand hygiene. After vaccination, the opportunity cost of staying home outweighs its benefits, and people are less inclined to stay at home. This effect is lower in older people who are at a higher risk of serious illness. The opportunity cost of wearing masks and hand hygiene is lower than that of staying home, and the benefit persists after vaccination if people are motivated to maintain these behaviours for others’ well-being.

Food insecurity in urban American Indian and Alaska Native populations during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundFood insecurity is an important social determinant of health that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Both food insecurity and COVID-19 infection disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority groups, particularly American Indian and Alaska Native communities; however, there is little evidence as to whether food insecurity is associated with COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 preventive behaviors such as vaccination uptake. The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between food insecurity, COVID-19 infection, and vaccination status among urban American Indian and Alaska Native adults seen at 5 clinics serving urban Native people.MethodsIn partnership with health organizations in Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, and New Mexico, the study team conducted a cross-sectional survey in 2021 to assess food security status and attitudes, barriers, and facilitators for COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Logistic regression was used to examine the association of food security status with sociodemographic factors and COVID-19 infection and vaccination status. Marginal standardization was applied to present results as prevalence differences.ResultsAmong 730 American Indian and Alaska Native adults, the prevalence of food insecurity measured during the pandemic was 38%. For participants who reported persistent food security status before and during the pandemic (n = 588), the prevalence of food insecurity was 25%. Prevalence of COVID-19 infection and vaccination did not vary by food security status after adjustment for confounders.ConclusionsHigh rates of food insecurity among American Indian and Alaska Native communities likely increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite the high prevalence of food insecurity, community-led efforts to reduce COVID-19 infection and increase vaccination uptake across Indian Health Service and Tribal healthcare facilities may have mitigated the negative impacts of the pandemic for families experiencing food insecurity. These successful approaches serve as an important reference for future public health efforts that require innovative strategies to improve overall health in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

Gamified Strength Recognition and Quiz to Enhance COVID-19 Prevention Knowledge and Behaviors, and Family Well-Being: Web-Based Pilot Intervention.

Background: Promoting COVID-19 prevention is key to pandemic control and innovative interventions can help communicate reliable science to the public. Under the Hong Kong Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project, we developed and evaluated a pilot intervention for promoting COVID-19 prevention through a web-based family game, guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior and a strength-based approach. Methods: The "SMART Epidemic prevention" pilot theme was launched to the public on September 21, 2020 for 4 weeks. The game had two parts: (i) strength recognition and (ii) quiz questions on knowledge and behaviors about COVID-19 prevention. Simple baseline, in-game, and postgame evaluation assessed players' perceived knowledge, behaviors, family well-being, game satisfaction, and perceived benefits. Results: Of 86 registered families, 55 played actively, including 212 players (51% female, 35% aged below 18) who self-identified as children (44%), parents (39%), and grandparents (11%). In weeks 1 and 4, an average of 7 and 18 game rounds were played per family, and 86.6% and 75.9% of rounds had perfect (2) behavior matches. Postgame evaluation with 51 families showed improvements in epidemic prevention knowledge and behaviors, family communication, family happiness (all P < 0.001), and family relationship (P = 0.002) with small effect sizes (0.15-0.29). Overall game satisfaction was rated 4.49 (scale of 1-5). Ninety-four percent of families shared knowledge from the game with others. Conclusions: Our pilot web-based family game first showed preliminary evidence on enhancing COVID-19 prevention knowledge and behaviors, and family well-being, with participants recognizing family strengths, reporting high satisfaction and various perceived benefits, and showing sustained gameplay. Trial Registration: The research protocol was registered at the National Institutes of Health (Identifier No. NCT04550065) on September 16, 2020.

The Relationship Between Knowledge And Covid-19 Preventive Behaviors Among Pregnant Women At PMB Lasmitasari, S.ST

The Relationship Between Knowledge And Covid-19 Preventive Behaviors Among Pregnant Women At PMB Lasmitasari, S.ST

Covid-19 Prevention Behaviors and Social Support For Elderly Group in The Working Area of The Atambua City Puskesmas

The elderly group is a group at risk of exposure to COVID-19, so it is necessary to have COVID-19 prevention behaviors, such as knowledge, attitudes, actions and social support among the elderly group in the working area of the Atambua City Health Center, in Belu Regency. This research is a quantitative research using descriptive research methods. The number of samples in this study were 100 elderly people, in the work area of the Atambua City Health Center. With a random sampling technique, data collection used a questionnaire of knowledge, attitudes, actions, and social support which had been declared valid and reliable. The results of the study found that 86.0% of the elderly had good knowledge about preventing COVID-19, and 88.0% of the elderly who had a good attitude towards preventing COVID-19 were good at preventing COVID-19, as much as 83.0%. Meanwhile, the elderly who have good social support for preventing COVID-19 are 87.0%, in the working area of the Atambua City Health Center, Belu Regency.&#x0D; Keywords: Behavior, Social Support, Elderly, COVID-19.

COVID-19 related health literacy and preventive behaviours of the older person in Perak state, Malaysia: A qualitative study

IntroductionHealth literacy is crucial in controlling the spread of SARS-CoV2 and preventing infection, as well as preparing healthcare systems for situations that require immediate response. The aim of this study was to evaluate older people's health literacy towards disease prevention, as well as the motivators and barriers they experienced when adopting preventative measures. MethodsWe conducted in-depth interviews with 16 participants aged 65 and beyond. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants, accounting for variability in gender, age and educational level. The transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis methods. The interview guide was developed using Sørensen's conceptual model of health literacy. ResultsFive main themes and 16 sub-themes were identified in this study. Knowledge and perception on preventive measures (with two sub-themes), sources of Covid-19 information (with two sub-themes), appraise the health information (with two sub-themes), perceived practice (with five sub-themes), barriers and motivators (with five sub-themes) were the major themes. This study discovered aspects of SEM may influence preventive measure adoption and the impact of different levels of SEM on seniors' decision-making for preventive measure adoption. ConclusionThis study examined older adults' experiences with CoviD-19-related health literacy (access, comprehend, assess, and apply), as well as their preventative behaviours, barriers, and motivators. Future disease outbreak mitigation measures should consider the SEM approach in order to improve health communication and promote healthy behaviour.

Adding COVID to cancer: does cancer status influence COVID-19 infection preventive behaviors?

A better understanding of how to promote disease mitigation and prevention behaviors among vulnerable populations, such as cancer survivors, is needed. This study aimed to determine patterns of and factors associated with COVID-19-related preventive behaviors among cancer survivors and assess whether the COVID-19 preventive behaviors of cancer survivors differ from the general population. In June 2020, an online survey of adults (N = 897) assessed predictors of COVID-19-related preventive behaviors, including socio-demographics, COVID-19 beliefs and perceptions (Health Belief Model [HBM] variables), and cancer statuses (cancer survivors currently in treatment, cancer survivors not currently in treatment, and individuals with no history of cancer). An average score of respondent engagement in eight preventive behaviors was calculated. Differences in HBM variables and preventive behaviors by cancer status were assessed using ANCOVAs. Hierarchical multiple regression analyzed associations among socio-demographics, HBM constructs, cancer statuses, and engagement in COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Participants reported engaging in 3.5 (SD = 0.6) preventive behaviors. Cancer survivors not in treatment engaged in preventive behaviors significantly less than the comparison group. In the final adjusted model, after adding COVID-19 beliefs and perceptions, cancer status was no longer significant. All HBM constructs except perceived susceptibility were significant predictors of preventive behaviors. COVID-19 beliefs and perceptions were more robust predictors preventive behaviors than cancer status. Nonetheless, public health organizations and practitioners should communicate the risk and severity of infection among cancer survivors and emphasize the need to engage in protective behaviors for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases with this vulnerable population.

Impact of Perceived and Collective Norms on COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors in 23 Countries: A Multi-Level Approach

ABSTRACT Social norms can be studied at both the individual and societal levels. While the influence of individual perceived norms on health behaviors has been well-documented, the role of societal-level factors in social normative influence remains unclear. We adopted a multilevel approach to investigate the impact of individual-level perceived norms, country-level collective norms, and individualistic culture on mask-wearing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected from 23 countries (N = 450,223) was conducted. The findings reveal that perceived descriptive norms, perceived injunctive norms, and collective norms conjointly influenced mask-wearing behavior. Positive relationships between perceived descriptive and injunctive norms and mask wearing were stronger in countries with a higher collective norm. Furthermore, positive relationships between norms (i.e., perceived descriptive norms, perceived injunctive norms, and collective norms) and mask wearing were stronger in countries with a more individualistic culture. The study provides evidence for theorizing social normative influence beyond the individual level and underscores the importance of incorporating multilevel factors in social norm research.

Using the Structural Influence Model to Explore U.S. Latina/O/X/E Undocumented Immigrants’ COVID-19 Information Acquisition, Perceptions, and Prevention Behaviors

ABSTRACT In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. undocumented immigrants were at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19, with many of them being “frontline essential workers” and residing in crowded living spaces. Given undocumented immigrants’ elevated susceptibility to contracting COVID-19 at the peak of uncertainty surrounding the virus, we used the structural influence model of communication to explore: (1) how undocumented immigrants acquired information about COVID-19; (2) how they assessed information trustworthiness and accuracy; (3) their perceptions of COVID-19; and (4) how they prevented or managed COVID-19. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with 46 Latina/o/x/e undocumented immigrants residing in California, we found four key themes: (1) (dis)trust in traditional media as participants relied heavily on social media for COVID-19 information; (2) weak and strong ties played a crucial role in co-constructing health outcomes with different levels of organization; (3) learning about COVID-19 through (in)direct experiences; and (4) coping through health literacy and cultural beliefs. The study’s findings can inform future efforts to reach highly-vulnerable immigrant communities during a crisis (or different outbreaks in COVID-19 variants), and hopefully, help reduce health inequities.

Psychological well-being and factors affecting it after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has enormously impacted human activity worldwide, partly due to many governments issuing stay-at-home orders and limiting the types of social interactions citizens can engage in. Hence, this study investigated psychological well-being and factors affecting it after the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 345 participants were recruited in the study. This research was conducted between February and May 2023 in Sarab, East Azerbaijan, Iran. To measure the data, valid and reliable instruments of Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC), interpersonal support evaluation list (ISEL-SF), and health-protective behaviors checklist instrument were used. According to the results, health locus of control (r = 0.227; p < 0.001), social support (r = 0.339; p < 0.001), and COVID-19 preventive behaviors (r = 0.376; p < 0.001) were positively correlated with psychological well-being. The strongest correlation was observed between psychological well-being and protective behaviors (r = 0.376; p < 0.001). In the hierarchical regression model, total, demographic characteristics along with health locus of control, social support, covid-19 preventive behaviors, and history of COVID-19 infection were able to explain 57.4% of the variation in psychological well-being. Public healthcare providers' and policymakers' preventive and supportive actions are highly advised for promoting health locus of control and social support in adults after the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, it is better to include a community's social and environmental changes.

Preventive behaviors against COVID-19 among health care providers in Iran: A cross-sectional study.

During outbreaks of infectious diseases, if healthcare providers do not follow the principles of prevention, the risk of personal infection increases and they become a source of infection spread. This study aimed to determine the factors related to the preventive health behaviors of COVID-19 among Iranian healthcare providers based on protection motivation theory (PMT). This analytical cross-sectional study included 346 healthcare providers. Data was collected by an online researcher-made questionnaire based on PMT. To analyze the data, independent T tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Spearman correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression, and SPSS 22 software were used. α was considered as 0.05. 85.3% of the healthcare providers would always wear masks, 80.7% would always refuse to kiss and touch hands with others, and 34.7% sometimes would exercise at home. The preventive behaviors were significantly correlated with protection motivation (r = 0.84), self-efficacy (r = 0.51), response efficiency (r = 0.43), perceived severity (r = 0.41) Fear (r = 0.21), perceived susceptibility (r = 0.11), response cost (r = -0.14), and reward (r = -0.15). PMT constructs were able to predict 77% of the variance of the behaviors and the protection motivation construct was the strongest predictor (β = 0.806). Income above 300 Dolars per month was significantly related to the decrease in the mean score of preventive behaviors against COVID-19. The female sex and the individual or family history of infectious diseases were significantly related to increasing the mean score of COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Based on the study results, it is suggested that some educational interventions be designed and implemented with a focus on this construct and the perceived severity construct and that more attention be given to the education of health care providers with high-income levels, male providers, and the individuals without a history of corona infection in themselves or their family members.

You Wear Face Mask, I Keep Social Distance: Comparing COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors between China and the United States

Prior research suggests that collectivism predicts international consumers’ compliance with COVID-19 preventive behaviors. However, across two cross-sectional studies, we demonstrated that Chinese consumers were more likely to wear face masks and stay at home; while U.S. consumers were more likely to wash hands and keep a social distance. Indeed, when U.S. consumers perceived the pandemic to be more severe and were more health-conscious, they were more likely to comply with COVID-19 preventive behaviors than the Chinese. Adopting a multifactorial model, we offer a holistic view of consumer responses to COVID-19. We also provide insights for marketers and policymakers.

The dark side of social capital: Geographic differences in COVID-19 preventive behaviors among older adults in South Korea.

The present study examined whether geographic location (i.e., rural vs. urban areas) moderated the relationship between social capital and COVID-19 preventive behaviors among older adults in South Korea. Participants were a nationally representative sample of 61 075 Korean adults aged 65 years or older from the 2021 Community Health Survey by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The moderation analysis was conducted with PROCESS. After adjusting for covariates, the moderation analysis showed a significant moderation effect of geographic location on the relationship between social capital and COVID-19 preventive behaviors among older adults in South Korea. Specifically, in urban areas, older adults with higher social capital were more likely to adhere to COVID-19 preventive behaviors. However, social capital negatively impacted older adults' COVID-19 preventive behaviors in rural areas. Findings suggest that social capital is not always helpful for maintaining COVID-19 preventive behaviors among older adults in South Korea. The social characteristics of geographic location need to be considered when initiating COVID-19 prevention campaigns in South Korea. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 377-384.

Fear, Stress, Susceptibility, and Problematic Social Media Use Explain Motivation for COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors Among Patients With Stroke and Their Caregivers.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges for individuals who experienced stroke and their caregivers. It is essential to understand the factors affecting preventive behavior in these populations. Therefore, the present study examined the factors that influenced COVID-19 preventive behavior and motivation for COVID-19 vaccine uptake among patients with stroke and their caregivers. A cross-sectional study comprising 191 participants (81 patients with stroke and 110 caregivers) was carried out. Participants completed a survey assessing fear of COVID-19, stress, perceived susceptibility, problematic social media use, preventive behaviors, and motivation for vaccine uptake. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regressions. Motivation for COVID-19 vaccine uptake was significantly positively correlated with problematic social media use (r = 0.225, P = .002), perceived susceptibility (r = 0.197, P = .008), and fear of COVID-19 (r = 0.179, P = .015), but negatively correlated with stress (r = -0.189, P = .010). Caregivers, compared to patients, showed a lower level of preventive behavior (standardized coefficient = -0.23, P = .017). Furthermore, higher levels of fear were associated with increased preventive behavior (standardized coefficient = 0.22, P = .006), while greater stress correlated with lower preventive behavior (standardized coefficient = -0.38, P < .001). Among patients with stroke and their caregivers, motivation of COVID-19 vaccine uptake and preventive behaviors were influenced by factors such as fear, perceived susceptibility, social media use, and stress. By using strategies such as targeted education, support, and communication campaigns, healthcare providers and policymakers may be able to enhance the well-being of patients with stroke and their caregivers during future pandemics.

The relationship between health literacy and the adoption of COVID-19 preventive behaviors: A cross-sectional study in Iran.

Health literacy (HL) is one of the effective factors in controlling the COVID-19 epidemic. Considering the high prevalence of COVID-19 disease, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between HL and the adoption of COVID-19 preventive behaviors. This was a descriptive-cross sectional study conducted on 214 students selected by simple random sampling method in Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2022. The data included demographic and background characteristics, health literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA), and a valid and reliable questionnaire to measure COVID-19 preventive behaviors. The data were analyzed using SPSS 23, descriptive statistics, and ordinal logistic regression tests. The mean and standard deviation of the scores of adoption of COVID-19 preventive behaviors and HL among students were 18.18) 4.02(out of 25 and 72.14) and 12.75 (out of 100, respectively. The results of the logistic regression test showed that the HL (P = 0.003), gender (P<0.001), mother's education (P = 0.039), educational level (P = 0.031), smoking (P = 0.032), and physical activity (P = 0.007) were effective factors in adopting preventive behaviors. Adopting preventive behaviors against COVID-19 was lower among students with lower levels of health literacy, male students, students with less physical activity, students with illiterate mothers, undergraduate students, and finally smokers. Therefore, it is necessary to pay more attention to these students in designing educational programs. It is suggested to carry out more extensive studies to clarify the effect of HL on the adoption of COVID-19 preventive behaviors.