tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Int J Environ Res Public Health
. 2021 Feb 19;18(4):2011.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18042011.
The Moderating Effects of Perceived Severity on the Generational Gap in Preventive Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S
Yunjuan Luo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yang Cheng[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mingxiao Sui[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults appear to be more susceptible to the coronavirus disease. Although the health stakes are higher for older adults, individuals of all ages should adopt preventive measures to contain the human-to-human transmission of the virus. This study conducted a national online survey of 1843 adults at the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. to examine age disparities in preventive behaviors against the virus. The results show that older generations, motivated by a higher perceived severity of the disease, were more likely to take the precautionary actions recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) than younger generations. This thus suggests that persuasive health messages addressing the severity of COVID-19 might reduce the generational gap and promote preventive behaviors among young people, to protect themselves and the elderly.
Keywords: COVID-19; generational gap; perceived severity; preventive behavior; risk perception.
. 2021 Feb 19;18(4):2011.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18042011.
The Moderating Effects of Perceived Severity on the Generational Gap in Preventive Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S
Yunjuan Luo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yang Cheng[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mingxiao Sui[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33669713
- DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18042011
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults appear to be more susceptible to the coronavirus disease. Although the health stakes are higher for older adults, individuals of all ages should adopt preventive measures to contain the human-to-human transmission of the virus. This study conducted a national online survey of 1843 adults at the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. to examine age disparities in preventive behaviors against the virus. The results show that older generations, motivated by a higher perceived severity of the disease, were more likely to take the precautionary actions recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) than younger generations. This thus suggests that persuasive health messages addressing the severity of COVID-19 might reduce the generational gap and promote preventive behaviors among young people, to protect themselves and the elderly.
Keywords: COVID-19; generational gap; perceived severity; preventive behavior; risk perception.