ABSTRACT
This study examined prevention and coping content related to COVID-19 on social media. Publicly available social media posts were examined by levels of the social ecological model (SEM) and by platform (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter). Using systematic random sampling, 1579 public posts were collected from March 2020 to June 2020 using COVID-19 hashtags. Of these, 663 posts written in English about COVID-19 were included. Content was coded by platform, strategies for reducing risk, strategies for coping with stress, and SEM level(s). In total, 41.18% of the posts mentioned a strategy for reducing risk. Few posts mentioned coping strategies (5%). Slightly less than half of the posts focused on the individual level (42.1%). Both the strategies mentioned for reducing risk and SEM levels referenced in each post varied significantly by platform. Results suggest that social media may provide insight into the type of health information the public receives as well as the public’s strategies for reducing risk and coping;however, there is variation among platforms.
ABSTRACT
Due to the increasing amount of new information that is emerging about COVID-19, traditional and web-based information sources are commonly used to spread and seek information. This study compared differences in information seeking, trust of information sources, and use of protective behaviors (e.g., mask wearing) among individuals in the US and China during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 722 valid responses in the US and 493 valid responses in China were collected via online surveys in May 2020. Pearson's Chi-square tests, independent samples t-tests, and multiple linear regressions were used to conduct the analyses. Results showed that US respondents accessed significantly fewer COVID-19 information sources, rated significantly lower levels of trust in these sources, and reported significantly lower levels of protective behaviors than the Chinese respondents. In both countries, trust in newspapers, radio/community broadcasting, and news portals were significantly positively correlated with protective behaviors. While trust of TV was significant in both populations, in China it was positively correlated, whereas in the US was negatively correlated, with protective behaviors. Findings from this study showed that coordinated and consistent messages from governmental officials, health authorities, and media platforms are important to promote and encourage protective behaviors.