1.Group risk perception and selfefficacy with individual prevention/control behaviors among college students during the COVID 19 pandemic
Chinese Journal of School Health 2022;43(10):1539-1543
Objective:
To explore the relationship between group risk perception, self efficacy and attitudes among college students, and its associations with individual prevention and control behaviors regarding COVID 19 pandemic.
Methods:
From October to November 2021, data were collected among 4 092 undergraduate students from eight colleges and universities in Anhui Province,using a multi stage stratified cluster sampling method. A t test and analysis of variance were performed for comparison between groups, while multiple linear regression was employed to investigate group risk perception, self efficacy and attitudes among college students in terms of individual COVID 19 prevention and control measures.
Results:
The total scores of group emotional risk perception (ARP), cognitive risk perception (CRP), distance perception (DIP) and self efficacy were (19.72±4.01)(14.56±3.64)(18.04±5.33) and (27.27±6.74), respectively. The total score of attitudes and beliefs was (26.15±4.54), while individual prevention and control behavior was (25.67±4.45). Emotional risk perception ( β=0.16 ), cognitive risk perception ( β=0.08 ), attitudes ( β=0.23 ) and self efficacy ( β=0.13 ) were positively correlated with individual prevention and control behaviors of college students( P <0.05). However, distance risk perception had no significant effect ( P >0.05).
Conclusion
Risk perception, self efficacy and attitude of college students are correlated with individual COVID 19 prevention and control behaviors. Therefore, colleges and universities should strengthen general self efficacy and attitude,and improve risk awareness towards COVID 19 among college students, and promote the effective prevention and control of campus epidemic.