Group risk perception and self-efficacy with individual prevention/control behaviors among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

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-teat 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 (B = 0.16), cognitive risk perception (B = 0.08), attitudes (B = 0.23) and self-efficacy (B = 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. © 2021 Chinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co.Ltd. All rights reserved.