Risk Perception and Protective Behaviors Against COVID-19 in Higher Education Students: The Mediating Role of Fear

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/apl/a.11100
Metáfora del ser humano (Zoé Romero Rodríguez)

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Published: Mar 25, 2023
Issue: Vol. 41 No. 1 (2023): Avances en Psicología Latinoamericana
Section Artículos


Keywords: COVID-19 risk perception protection behaviors fear of COVID-19 higher education students

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Authors

Michael Köster
Departamento de Psicologia e Educação, Universidade da Beira Interior
Ana Isabel Cunha
Departamento de Psicologia e Educação, Universidade da Beira Interior; Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD)
  Vítor Costa
Departamento de Psicologia e Educação, Universidade da Beira Interior
Marta Pereira Alves
Departamento de Psicologia e Educação, Universidade da Beira Interior; Research Centre for Business Sciences (NECE-UBI)

Abstract

The study aims to describe the protective behaviors adopted by Portuguese higher education students in during the and to analyze their relationship with the perception of risk and the mediating role of fear of COVID-19. A total of 335 students aged between 18 and 29 participated in the study (m = 21.42; sd = 2.43). Participants completed a survey on protective (i.e., preventive and avoidance) behaviors, risk perception, and fear of covid-19. The results showed that the most used preventive behaviors were hand washing/disinfection throughout the day and using masks in public streets or outdoor spaces. The most adopted avoidance behaviors were avoiding crowded places and face-to-face interactions with colleagues/ friends. There was a positive correlation between protective behaviors, the perception of severity, and fear of covid-19. Fear of COVID-19 mediated the relation between the perception of severity and both preventive (c’ = .26, ic 95% [.11; .44]) and avoidance (c’ = .28, ic 95% [.12; .50]) behaviors. The results are discussed considering the role of risk perception and fear in the behavioral responses of young people in a pandemic context while presenting practical implications and suggestions for future studies.

How to Cite
Köster, M., Cunha, A. I., Costa, V., & Alves, M. P. (2023). Risk Perception and Protective Behaviors Against COVID-19 in Higher Education Students: The Mediating Role of Fear. Avances En Psicología Latinoamericana, 41(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/apl/a.11100
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