Risk Perception Scale Research Articles

Evaluation of Covid-19 risk perception and psychological status of transplant patients

Abstract Background Liver transplant patients are in the more at-risk group in terms of COVID-19 infection and mortality due to both immunosuppressive treatment and underlying chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the COVID-19 risk perception, compliance with preventive measures, and psychosocial status of liver transplant patients. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional survey study included 311 patients who underwent liver transplantation between 2002 -2021 and presented to the outpatient clinic for routine controls. Data were collected via a questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire form used to collect the data of the study included a demographic and clinical characteristics form, the Short Depression-Happiness Scale, the COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines Compliance Scale, and the COVID-19 Risk Perception Scale. The Mann-Whitney U, the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman’s Rho correlation analysis were used in statistical analyses. Results The median age of the transplant patients who participated in the study was 56 (18-76) years. Of the transplant patients, 84.9% stated that they had COVID-19 vaccination. There was a statistically significant, very weak relationship between the scores of the Brief Depression-Happiness Scale and the COVID-19 Compliance with Preventive Measures Scale (r = 0.132; p = 0.02), and a weak, significant relationship in the same direction between the scores of the COVID-19 Compliance with Preventive Measures Scale and the COVID-19 Risk Perception Scale (r = 0.344; p = 0.001). Conclusions The vaccination rates of the patients were high. As the depression status of the patients decreases, their compliance with preventive measures increases, and as their compliance with preventive measures increases, their risk perception increases. Key messages • Since transplant patients are a vulnerable group, their vaccination status is important in terms of mortality risk. • Psychological factors such as depression-happiness scores influence adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among transplant patients.

Development and validation of the sarcopenia disease risk perception scale for older adults

BackgroundSarcopenia represents a constant threat to the health of older adults, and accurate risk perception is essential for disease prevention and control. However, current methodologies lack rigorously validated instruments to assess the perceived risk of sarcopenia among this group. Thus, this study aimed to develop and validate a sarcopenia disease risk perception scale for older adults.DesignThe study was conducted in two phases: development of the initial scale and its psychometric evaluation. A STROBE checklist was employed.MethodsBased on the two-factor model of risk perception theory and the health belief model, the initial draft of the scale was created through literature review, expert consultations, and a preliminary survey with a small sample. Then, we used a cross-sectional study methodology to conveniently select 438 Chinese older adults. Item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to refine and validate the scale items. Internal consistency and external consistency were assessed to confirm the scale’s reliability.ResultsThese evaluations established the scale’s framework: content validity, item analysis, and EFA. The two factors extracted from the initial analysis explained 62.250% of the observation variance. The CFA confirmed a good fit for the model, demonstrating the scale’s robust reliability and validity. The finalized scale includes 15 items and two dimensions: perceived susceptibility (eight items) and perceived severity (seven items).ConclusionThe Sarcopenia Disease Risk Perception Scale for Older Adults is reliable and valid, making it appropriate for assessing the risk perception level in the target population.

On the Road Safety: Gender Differences in Risk-Taking Driving Behaviors Among Seniors Aged 65 and Older.

Background/Objectives: Life expectancies have increased in most countries, leading to a higher accident rate among older drivers than their younger counterparts. While numerous studies have analyzed the decline in cognitive abilities and physical limitations as contributing factors, there are other considerations. For instance, younger male drivers tend to take more risks than younger female drivers. However, there is a lack of research and evidence regarding the role of gender in risk-taking among individuals over 65. Given this gap, our current study aims to investigate the relationship between gender and risk propensity in this particular age group. The primary goal was to determine if driving experience affects the gender gap in risk attitude; Methods: We studied risk behavior in both car drivers and pedestrians. Our sample included 200 individuals (101 women), all over 65, with the same weekly driving times. After a brief demographic and anamnestic interview, they completed the Driver Road Risk Perception Scale (DRPS) and the Pedestrian Behavior Appropriateness Perception Scale (PBAS) questionnaires. They also provided information about traffic violations and road crashes; Results: Our research revealed that older male drivers continue to tend to risky behavior, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve risk awareness, especially among older men; Conclusions: Our findings suggest that road safety messages should specifically target male drivers as they are less likely to view responsible driving actions, such as observing speed limits, as desirable.

Disaster Risk Perception and Sustainable Earthquake Awareness Among Public and Private University Nursing Students.

This research was conducted in descriptive type to determine the disaster risk perception and sustainable earthquake awareness of nursing students studying at public and private universities. The study sample consisted of 400 nursing students studying at one public and one private university. The research was conducted between April and May 2023. The data were collected using a Sociodemographic Form, University Students Disaster Risk Perception Scale (USDRPS), and Sustainable Earthquake Awareness Scale (SEAS). Data were collected online using a questionnaire created on Google Forms. Analyses included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation values, independent groups t-test, post-hoc Tukey test, LSD, and ANOVA test. Of the students, 61.8% had a disaster experience, 17.4% had lost a relative in the disaster, and 76.8% did not consider themselves prepared for a possible disaster. In the study, the exposure sub-dimension score of the disaster risk perception scale was found to be higher in students who had disaster experience than in those who did not (p=0.032). Nursing students from the private university had higher sustainable earthquake awareness scores than those studying at the state university (p=0.001). The mean scores of female students on the earthquake preparedness and preparation application sub-dimensions showed a significant difference compared to the scores of male students (p=0.016). In the study, sustainable earthquake awareness total and earthquake preparedness sub-dimension scores were higher in second-year nursing students than in students of other years (p=0.042; 0.015). Those who had received disaster training had low scores on the uncontrollable sub-dimension of the disaster risk perception scale, and high scores on the total SEAS and earthquake-structure relationship, earthquake preparedness, and earthquake preparation application sub-dimensions (p<0.05). In the study, three out of four students did not find themselves prepared for disasters. Those who had disaster experience had higher disaster risk perceptions. Students who had received disaster-related training had more positive earthquake preparedness, earthquake-structure relationship, and earthquake preparation applications than those who had not. Students who were female and were in the second year had higher earthquake awareness. Studies can be carried out to inform people about the pre-disaster and preparation stages to raise awareness about disasters at universities. Education on disaster management can be integrated into courses from the first years of university.

Analysis of influencing factors of risk perception among emergency nurses in China: An observational study.

To understand the current saturation of emergency nurses' risk perception and its influencing factors, and to explore the correlation between emergency nurses' risk perception and nurse's safety behavior. This study is a cross-sectional study. From January 2024 to February 2024 using the questionnaire star online survey method. The convenience sampling method was used to survey nurses in the emergency departments of 5 hospitals in China. Male and female emergency nurses (n = 189) from China were included in the final sample. Nursing risk perception questionnaire and nurses safety behavior scale were used for evaluation. The collected data were comprehensively analyzed using various statistical methods, including descriptive analysis, 2 independent samples t-test mean comparison, 1-way analysis of variance for differences, multiple linear regression analysis to identify influencing factors, and Pearson correlation analyze correlations. All analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.0, and P < .05 was considered statistically significant (2-sided). The emergency nurses score was (87.08 ± 20.18) on the risk perception scale, scoring rate 62.2%. The results of multiple regression showed that age, marital status, education level, professional title, monthly income level, and safety behaviors were the main factors influencing the risk perception of emergency nurses (P < .05). The results of correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the dimensions of nurses' risk perception and safety behaviors (R = 0.636, P < .01). Age, marriage, education level, years of work experience, professional title, duties. engagement type, monthly income level, participation in teaching work, safety training, and no adverse events were the influencing factors of risk perception. The research results emphasize that risk perception of emergency nurses has a positive prediction effect on safe behavior. It is suggested that nursing managers should optimize nursing workflow and human resource allocation, strategically add occupational risk training to vocational training, and strengthen nurses' safety behaviors.

Did COVID-19 risk perceptions influence the handwashing behavior of the Filipino population?

The COVID-19 pandemic reminded people of the importance of proper handwashing. The degree of health risk perceptions and handwashing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic opens essential lessons for delivering water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs across the globe. We measured the relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and the handwashing behavior of 386 Filipinos in a highly urbanized city in the Philippines. Self-made COVID-19 risk perception scale (CRPS) (Cronbach's α 0.93) and handwashing behavior scale (HBS) (Cronbach's α 0.84) were administered face-to-face. The results show that the overall handwashing behavior has a median of 4.1 (frequently), while the interquartile range (IQR) is 0.5. Regression analysis revealed that COVID-19 risk perception has a significant positive association with overall handwashing behavior (B=0.369, p-value &amp;lt;0.05). The COVID-19 risk perception accounts for 36.9% of the variance in handwashing behavior, F (1, 384) =11.6360, p-value=0.0007. This study proposes that public health authorities target people's experiential learning style in designing and delivering intervention programs against non-compliance with proper handwashing.

Measuring Risk Perception and Risk Compensation among Local Residents toward COVID-19 in the Tourism Sandbox Islands: Comparative Evidence from the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus Model in Thailand

Since Thailand is a tourism-dependent country, its economy suffered tremendously during the COVID-19 lockdown. In a pioneering effort to re-open the country, two islands (Phuket and Koh Samui) began to welcome fully vaccinated international visitors in July 2021 under the “Phuket Sandbox”1 and “Samui Plus Model.” Even though the sandbox programs were found to create more income and some benefits for tourism businesses, they also generated concern among local people about contracting such an infectious disease as COVID-19. The aim of this study was to measure perception of COVID-19 infection among local residents due to contacts with in-ternational tourists. Using secondary data from a survey of 400 local residents living on the two islands, monetary compensation under the contingent valuation methods (CVM) and risk perception scale of 0–10 were analyzed to get an indication of the level of local residents’ risk perception toward COVID-19 possibly being transmitted by international tourists. Our results show that the risk perception was found to be higher among those who believed that the coronavirus could possibly result in death. Older individuals, especially females, and those with higher incomes seemed to have a higher risk perception. Residents who were working in the tourism sector were found to have a lower risk level than those who were working in other branches. There were also discordances in terms of education level and risk perception between residents in two islands. The paper suggests that awareness of residents’ risk perception and effective communication regarding such risk perception should be put in place to ensure appropriate practices that affect local residents in such sandbox areas in the future.

Определение уровня восприятия риска заражения COVID-19 и размера компенсации за него у местного населения в островной туристической зоне: сравнительные показатели островов Пхукет и Самуи в Таиланде

Since Thailand is a tourism-dependent country, its economy suffered tremendously during the COVID-19 lockdown. In a pioneering effort to re-open the country, two islands (Phuket and Koh Samui) began to welcome fully vaccinated international visitors in July 2021 under the “Phuket Sandbox”1 and “Samui Plus Model.” Even though the sandbox programs were found to create more income and some benefits for tourism businesses, they also generated concern among local people about contracting such an infectious disease as COVID-19. The aim of this study was to measure perception of COVID-19 infection among local residents due to contacts with in-ternational tourists. Using secondary data from a survey of 400 local residents living on the two islands, monetary compensation under the contingent valuation methods (CVM) and risk perception scale of 0–10 were analyzed to get an indication of the level of local residents’ risk perception toward COVID-19 possibly being transmitted by international tourists. Our results show that the risk perception was found to be higher among those who believed that the coronavirus could possibly result in death. Older individuals, especially females, and those with higher incomes seemed to have a higher risk perception. Residents who were working in the tourism sector were found to have a lower risk level than those who were working in other branches. There were also discordances in terms of education level and risk perception between residents in two islands. The paper suggests that awareness of residents’ risk perception and effective communication regarding such risk perception should be put in place to ensure appropriate practices that affect local residents in such sandbox areas in the future.

Comparison of Consumer Ethics Perception of Islamic Banking Customers with Conventional Banking Customers of Turkey: A Study from Turkish Banking System

Abstract Objectives: This study compared consumer ethics perceptions between Islamic and Conventional Banking customers in Turkey and examined the relationship between risk and ethics in both groups. Methods: A survey was conducted with 419 banking customers (276 Conventional, 143 Islamic) between March 2023 and March 2024, using the Risk Perception Scale and Ethical Behaviour Scale, along with demographic and bank usage characteristics. Results: Results showed no significant difference in total risk perception levels between the two groups (p&lt;0.05). Islamic Banking customers exhibited significantly higher levels of passive benefitting, active benefitting, and overall ethics (p&lt;0.05). For Conventional Banking customers, risk perception was negatively correlated with passive benefitting (r=-0.175; p&lt;0.01), active benefitting (r=-0.184; p&lt;0.01), and total ethics perception (r=-0.192; p&lt;0.01). Passive benefitting significantly impacted the risk perception of Conventional Banking customers (OR=-0.06; p&lt;0.05). Among Islamic Banking customers, risk perception was positively correlated only with deceptive legal practices (r=0.170; p&lt;0.05), which did not significantly affect their risk perception (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: Islamic Banking customers have a higher level of ethical perception and prioritize ethical issues more than Conventional Banking customers. While ethical perceptions significantly influence the risk perceptions of Conventional Banking customers, they do not affect the risk perceptions of Islamic Banking customers. Keywords: Islamic banking, Risk perception, Ethics.

Financial resilience-focused program: A single group pretest–posttest intervention to change financial risk perception among teenagers in an ethnic minority poverty-stricken area in China

PurposeThis study examined the effects of a single-group pretest–posttest intervention in changing the level of financial risk perceptions among teenagers from the perspective of the financial resilience framework. Method37 teenagers completed the six-week nonrandomised intervention with follow-up tests at Weeks 8 and 22. Based on the pretest scores of the Internet Financial Risk Perception Scale, the participants were divided into high- and low-risk perception groups. Bayesian repeated variance analysis was then used to evaluate the influence of the intervention on financial risk perception. ResultsCompared with the baseline level, the low-risk perception group showed an increase in total financial risk perception and each subdimension. Decreased changes were observed in the long term, although no sufficient evidence was found for changes in the high-risk perception group after the intervention. ConclusionsThe financial resilience-focused framework and its corresponding program neutralizes the perceived risk. Furthermore, similar interventions should consider the initial level of risk perception among participants.

The role of subjective risk perception and self-esteem in the relationship between sensation seeking and aberrant behaviors on the road: A moderated-moderation model

Introduction: Road crashes are still one of the main causes of death around the world. Risky behavior has been proposed as one of the foremost predictors, with the theoretical framework of aberrant behavior emerging as a predominant approach for its examination. Sensation seeking has been pointed out as one of the main personality predictors of aberrant behavior. The current research aimed to investigate the moderated-moderation effect of both risk perception and self-esteem in the relationship between sensation seeking and aberrant behavior. Method: Two studies were conducted. The first study aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Risk Perception Scale (RPS), a 10-item self-report to assess risk perception. A sample composed of 471 Spanish drivers (319 female, Mage = 29.75) completed the RPS. In the second study, a different sample of 236 Spanish drivers (129 female, Mage = 38.49) completed a set of self-reports aiming both to analyze the concurrent and divergent validity of the RPS, and to test the main moderated-moderation hypothesis. Results: With respect to the first study, the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a 7-item version which fitted in a single reliable factor (α = .74). Regarding the second study, the results supported both the concurrent and divergent validity of the RPS. Likewise, it was verified the moderated-moderation effect in the case of ordinary violations (R2 = .34), aggressive violations (R2 = .20), and lapses (R2 = .12). Conclusions: The RPS is a useful self-report to assess subjective risk perception in Spanish drivers. Both self-esteem and risk perception affect the relationship between sensation seeking and aberrant driving behavior. Practical implications: Intervention programs aiming to reduce aberrant driving behavior should be focused on reducing sensation seeking tendencies while simultaneously enhancing both risk perception skills and self-esteem.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the death risk perception scale for advanced cancer patients

BackgroundAn accurate perception of death risk is a prerequisite for advanced cancer patients to make informed end-of-life care decisions. However, there is to date no suitable scale to measure death risk perception. This study was to develop and psychometrically test the death risk perception scale (DRPS) for advanced cancer patients.MethodsProcess of instrument development and psychometric evaluation were used. First, qualitative research, a literature review, brainstorming, a Delphi study, and cognitive interviews were conducted to construct a pretest scale of death risk perception. Second, a scale-based survey was administered to 479 advanced cancer patients. Item, exploratory factor, and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to optimize the scale. The Cronbach’s alpha was calculated as a reliability analysis. The validity analysis included construct, convergent, discriminant, and content validity values.ResultsA three-dimension, 12-item scale was developed, including deliberative, affective, and experiential risk perception. The confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor model with satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity levels. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was 0.807 and scale-level content validity index was 0.98.ConclusionsThe 12-item DRPS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the level of death risk perception in advanced cancer patients. More studies are needed to examine its structure and robustness prior to use.

The Impact of COVID-19 Risk Perception on College Students' Positive Psychological Capital: the Role of Psychological Resilience and Social Support

In order to explore the relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and positive psychological capital in college students, this study investigates the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of social support. Methods: In this study, 586 college students were surveyed by COVID-19 Risk Perception Scale, Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire, Chinese Version of Resilience Scale and Social Support Scale. Results: (1) There is a significant negative correlation between COVID-19 risk perception and positive psychological capital, that is, COVID-19 risk perception can significantly and negatively predict the positive psychological capital of college students. (2) Psychological resilience plays a mediating role between risk perception and positive psychological capital. (3) Social support plays a weakening role in the negative prediction of risk perception on positive psychological capital. Conclusions: COVID-19 risk perception not only directly reduces positive psychological capital, but also affects positive psychological capital of college students through psychological resilience; social support can adjust the negative impact of risk perception on positive psychological capital. This study reveals the relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and college students' positive psychological capital and its mechanism, which has positive enlightenment significance for improving college students' mental health status and better promoting self-regulation during major public health events.

Health risk perception and exercise intention of college students: a moderated mediation model of health anxiety and lay theories of health.

Health risk perception is an important predictor of health-protective behaviors according to the health belief model. However, the underlying mechanism connecting health risk perception and exercise behaviors is not well understood. The current study investigates how health risk perception predicts college students' exercise intention in the post-pandemic era in China and analyzes the mediating effect of health anxiety and the moderating effect of lay theories of health. This cross-sectional study adopted convenience sampling and recruited 767 students from a province in central China. The Health Risk Perception Scale, Health Anxiety Scale, Lay Theories of Health Scale, and the Chinese version of the Exercise Intention Scale were used to measure the levels of health risk perception, health anxiety, implicit health theory, and exercise intention, respectively. The results of the moderated mediation model indicated that the health risk perception of college students significantly and positively affected exercise intention (β = 0.110, t = 2.852, p < 0.01). Meanwhile, the indirect effect of health anxiety on the relationship between health risk perception and exercise intention was significant. Furthermore, lay theories of health buffered the association between health anxiety and exercise intention, according to the moderated mediation analysis (β = 0.068, t = 2.067, p < 0.05). For college students holding incremental health theory, the influence of health anxiety on exercise intention was positively and statistically significant. The health risk perception of college students can lead to health anxiety, which can positively affect their exercise intention. In addition, lay theories of health can moderate the effect of health anxiety on exercise intention. The results have practical implications for developing effective, applicable, and scalable interventions to promote physical exercise by reducing the level of entity theory of health or increasing the level of incremental theory.

Barriers to Older Adults Adapting Smart Homes: Perceived Risk Scale Development

The 21st century has marked the dawn of an aging population. China’s aging process ranks first worldwide. The country has recognized the gravity of this demographic shift and implemented strategies to address it at the national level. A vast majority of elderly Chinese individuals (approximately 90%) aspire to age in their own homes. Smart homes, endowed with cutting-edge digital technologies, such as AI, the Internet of Things, and big data, hold vast potential for enabling this vision. However, acceptance of smart home products and services among elderly individuals in China remains low. The main reason is that the related products and services fail to effectively alleviate the perceived risk of this population in the R&amp;D process of related products and services, and there is a lack of effective measurement methods. To holistically assess the potential obstacles faced by elderly individuals using smart home products and services, this study targeted individuals aged 45–60 years in China. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive perceived risk scale specific to smart homes for this demographic. Initially, this study identified key risk dimensions and corresponding measurement items through a rigorous literature review, user interviews, and expert consultations. Subsequently, it ensured the reliability and validity of each dimension and its corresponding observation variables through preliminary research, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. This approach allowed for a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by future elderly individuals when utilizing smart home products and services, thus enabling the development of more effective solutions. The scale encompassed ten factors and seventy measurement items, including Privacy and Security Risk (seven items), Physical Risk (seven items), Technological Risk (nine items), Performance Risk (seven items), Service Risk (nine items), Financial Risk (five items), Psychological Risk (seven items), Industry and Market Risk (six items), Social Support Risk (six items), and Policy and Legal risk (seven items). The measurement scale developed in this study represents a groundbreaking first attempt to create a systematic scale for assessing the perceived risks associated with smart homes for the elderly in China. It not only enables professionals, businesses, and manufacturers to avoid or reduce barriers in the R&amp;D process of related products and services, facilitating smart home industry growth and enhancing user adoption, but also serves as a universal reference for the potential obstacles that digital technology may encounter in addressing aging-related issues, which has significant theoretical value and practical importance.

Psychometric properties of the Risk Perception Scale for Technology Use in children and adolescents

The aim of this work is 1) to create a valid, reliable instrument with which to evaluate the risk perception of children and adolescents regarding their use of technology (cell phones, Internet, and video games); and 2) to analyze the frequency with which some risk behaviors occur in relation to perception, technology use and age. 807 children and adolescents from the province of Cordoba (Spain) answered an ad hoc questionnaire with several instruments: sociodemographic data; problematic use of cell phones, Internet, and video games; and risk perception with the Scale on Risk Perception of Technology Use for children and adolescents (EPRUT). The results obtained from the factor analysis reveal that the RPSTU has three dimensions, related to cell phones, Internet, and video games, respectively. Differences were observed in the relationship between age and risk perception, with older people having the highest risk perception. Assessing risk perception will favor the detection and development of prevention programs for the use of technology in children and adolescents.

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN PERCEPTIONS AND USAGE OF CHATGPT

This study investigates gender differences in the adoption and usage of ChatGPT among university students across various academic disciplines. Utilizing a combination of convenience, snowball, and purposive sampling methods, data were collected from 217 participants through digital platforms and analyzed using the Abbreviated Technology Anxiety Scale, an adapted Technological Acceptance Model, and a newly developed Perceived Risk scale. Results indicate no significant gender difference in ChatGPT acceptance but reveal variations in usage patterns and concerns related to technological over-reliance and privacy. Males reported longer usage times, while females showed higher usage frequency and greater apprehension about over-reliance on ChatGPT. Despite these differences, both genders found ChatGPT useful for educational purposes, suggesting its potential as an inclusive learning tool. The study's findings accentuate the importance of considering gender dynamics in educational technology deployment and call for further research into the socio-technical factors affecting ChatGPT usage

The relationship between earthquake risk perceptions, religious orientation, spiritual well-being in individuals with and without earthquake experience: a cross-sectional study

The physical and psychological effects of earthquakes on individuals with their experience dimension are important. This study aimed to examine the relationship between earthquake risk perception, religious orientation, and spiritual well-being among individuals with and without earthquake experience. The data collection instruments included a socio-demographic information questionnaire, earthquake risk perception scale, religious orientation scale, and three-factor spiritual well-being scale. Statistical evaluations were performed using independent samples t test, one-way ANOVA test, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test (Levene), Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses. About 59.9% of the participants had experienced an earthquake. Individuals with earthquake experience scored 33.04 ± 7.80 on the earthquake risk perception scale, 100.65 ± 20.80 on the religious orientation scale, and 119.66 ± 18.87 on the three-factor spiritual well-being scale. Those without earthquake experience scored 31.57 ± 7.74, 96.70 ± 18.46, and 114.09 ± 18.04 on the respective scales. The average scores on the earthquake risk perception scale were found to be statistically significant with respect to gender, while the average scores on the religious orientation scale and the three-factor spiritual well-being scale were found to be statistically significant with respect to both gender and substance use. The regression analysis revealed that religious orientation and three-factor spiritual well-being significantly predicted 13.5% of the variance in earthquake risk perception. Studies to increase individuals’ risk perception are important in minimizing the destructive effects of earthquakes in countries in the earthquake zone.

Effects of COVID-19 infection risk perception on depressive symptoms among pregnant women in different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in China: A mediation model.

The study investigated the mediation mechanisms between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection risk perception and depressive symptoms among pregnant women during the different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. Study data were derived from a sample of 463 pregnant women in Hubei Province, the province with the most severe COVID-19 outbreak in China. Data were collected in two phases (during and after the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic) using the COVID-19 infection risk perception scales, the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Peritrauma Distress Inventory (PDI). Mediation model analysis was used for data analysis, overall and by groups. The level of depressive symptoms among pregnant women after the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic was moderate (median, 9.00 [25th percentile, 75th percentile = 5.00, 12.00]), higher than the acute group (median, 7.00 [25th percentile, 75th percentile = 4.50, 10.00]). Perceived stress and traumatic stress fully mediated the relationship between infection worry (total indirect effect, 0.39 [95% confidence interval, 0.24-0.54])/infection possibility (total indirect effect, 0.41 [95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.61]) and depressive symptoms among pregnant women during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas the relationship was only fully mediated by perceived stress after the acute pandemic. Effects of risk perception on depressive symptoms varied by periods of COVID-19. These findings have important implications for developing effective prevention and early psychoeducational intervention strategies for pregnant women with a high risk of depressive symptoms during different periods of emerging infectious diseases.

The Mediating Role of Lifelong Learning Motivation in the Relationship Between Virtual Risk Perception and Digital Well-Being

This research aims to examine the potential mediating role of lifelong learning motivation in the relationship between virtual risk perception and digital well-being of (whom?). With a view to filling the gaps in the literature, this study examined how lifelong learning motivation can play a mediating role in understanding the effects of the risks individuals perceive in digital environments on their digital well-being. The findings of the research, obtained within a theoretical framework that combines psychological, educational, and digital technology perspectives, aim to shed light on new studies on improving individual well-being in the digital world and make a significant contribution to better understand the complex dynamics of the digital age and to properly maintain individuals’ digital experiences. 140 people participated in the research. The research data was obtained by survey. In the 4-section questionnaire, the other sections except demographic information were obtained with the Virtual World Risk Perception (VWRP) Scale, Lifelong Learning Motivation (LLM) Scale and Digital Well-Being (DWB) Scale. Mediation analysis was performed on the obtained data with JAMOVI software. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that lifelong learning motivation fully mediates the relationship between virtual risk perception and digital well-being.