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The Role of Illness Perceptions, Coping, and Self-Efficacy on Adherence to Precautionary Measures for COVID-19.

  • Chong YY The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Chien WT The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Cheng HY The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Chow KM The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Kassianos AP Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus.
  • Karekla M Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus.
  • Gloster A Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Intervention Science, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland.
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  • 2020-09-11
Published in:
  • International journal of environmental research and public health. - 2020
COVID-19
adherence
avoidance
coping
public health
Adaptation, Psychological
Betacoronavirus
Coronavirus
Coronavirus Infections
Disease Transmission, Infectious
Guideline Adherence
Hong Kong
Humans
Pandemics
Pneumonia, Viral
Self Efficacy
Universal Precautions
English As the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues, engaging the public in adherence to precautionary measures for preventing COVID-19 spread or infection becomes difficult. The present study aims to extend our understanding of how illness perceptions, coping, and self-efficacy affect adherence to precautionary measures among the public. An online survey was administered between April and June 2020 to a sample of 514 Hong Kong citizens. Variables considered were illness perceptions toward COVID-19, problem-solving, avoidance-based coping, self-efficacy, as well as adherence to precautionary measures including physical distancing, limiting unnecessary travelling, and washing hands regularly with soap and water. Adjusted structural equation model showed that illness perceptions toward COVID-19 had significant direct effect on their adherence to precautionary measures (unstandardized β = 0.50, [95% CI, 0.28, 0.80], p = 0.001), and indirect effects through avoidance-based coping (β = -0.10 [95% CI, -0.26, -0.01], p = 0.016) and self-efficacy (β = -0.10, [95% CI, -0.18, -0.01], p = 0.025). These results imply that apart from emphasizing the health hazards of a novel infectious disease, an effective public health intervention and crisis communication should address avoidance-based coping and self-efficacy of the public in adherence to precautionary measures for COVID-19.
Language
  • English
Open access status
gold
Identifiers
Persistent URL
https://sonar.ch/global/documents/139177
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