Osong Public Health Res Perspect.  2022 Aug;13(4):282-289. 10.24171/j.phrp.2021.0345.

The role of risk perception, risk communication, and demographic factors in COVID-19 preventive behaviors: an online survey in Iran

• Rezaei M
• Gilan NR
• Almasi A
• Khezeli M
• Nazar FJ
• Shushtari ZJ
• Salimi Y
• Najafi F
• Sarabi N
• Saeidi S
• Saeidi S

• KMID: 2532912
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2021.0345

Abstract

Objectives
This study investigated preventive behaviors toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and related factors in a Kurdish Iranian sample.
Methods
This online survey was conducted among the population aged 18 and above in Kermanshah Province, in western Iran, in April 2020. Samples were invited and recruited through social media. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisting of 4 sections (questions on demographic variables, risk perception, risk communication, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors) and analyzed using Stata ver. 8.
Results
The Pearson correlation test showed that risk communication was significantly correlated with COVID-19 preventive behaviors (r = 0.320, p < 0.01). In the final model, where the explanatory power increased with the entry of the risk communication variable, the variables explained a total of 14% of variance in COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Sex (β = −0.482), risk perception (β = 0.047), and risk communication (β = 0.662) were significant determinants.
Conclusion
Risk communication and risk perception related to COVID-19, as well as being a woman, were determinants of COVID-19 preventive behaviors.

Keyword

Behavior; Communication; COVID-19; Media; Perception; Risk