scholarly journals Influence of Health Beliefs on Adherence to COVID-19 Preventative Practices: International, Social Media–Based Survey Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julianna C Hsing ◽  
Jasmin Ma ◽  
Alejandra Barrero-Castillero ◽  
Shilpa G Jani ◽  
Uma Palam Pulendran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Perceived Severity ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
United States Mexico

BACKGROUND Health behavior is influenced by culture and social context. However, there are limited data evaluating the scope of these influences on COVID-19 response. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare handwashing and social distancing practices in different countries and evaluate practice predictors using the health belief model (HBM). METHODS From April 11 to May 1, 2020, we conducted an online, cross-sectional survey disseminated internationally via social media. Participants were adults aged 18 years or older from four different countries: the United States, Mexico, Hong Kong (China), and Taiwan. Primary outcomes were self-reported handwashing and social distancing practices during COVID-19. Predictors included constructs of the HBM: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action. Associations of these constructs with behavioral outcomes were assessed by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS We analyzed a total of 71,851 participants, with 3070 from the United States, 3946 from Mexico, 1201 from Hong Kong (China), and 63,634 from Taiwan. Of these countries, respondents from the United States adhered to the most social distancing practices (χ<sup>2</sup><sub>3</sub>=2169.7, <i>P</i>&lt;.001), while respondents from Taiwan performed the most handwashing (χ<sup>2</sup><sub>3</sub>=309.8, <i>P</i>&lt;.001). Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that self-efficacy was a positive predictor for handwashing (odds ratio [OR]<sub>United States</sub> 1.58, 95% CI 1.21-2.07; OR<sub>Mexico</sub> 1.5, 95% CI 1.21-1.96; OR<sub>Hong Kong</sub> 2.48, 95% CI 1.80-3.44; OR<sub>Taiwan</sub> 2.30, 95% CI 2.21-2.39) and social distancing practices (OR<sub>United States</sub> 1.77, 95% CI 1.24-2.49; OR<sub>Mexico</sub> 1.77, 95% CI 1.40-2.25; OR<sub>Hong Kong</sub> 3.25, 95% CI 2.32-4.62; OR<sub>Taiwan</sub> 2.58, 95% CI 2.47-2.68) in all countries. Handwashing was positively associated with perceived susceptibility in Mexico, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, while social distancing was positively associated with perceived severity in the United States, Mexico, and Taiwan. CONCLUSIONS Social media recruitment strategies can be used to reach a large audience during a pandemic. Self-efficacy was the strongest predictor for handwashing and social distancing. Policies that address relevant health beliefs can facilitate adoption of necessary actions for preventing COVID-19. Our findings may be explained by the timing of government policies, the number of cases reported in each country, individual beliefs, and cultural context.

scholarly journals Influence of Health Beliefs on Adherence to COVID-19 Preventative Practices: International, Social Media–Based Survey Study

10.2196/23720 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. e23720
Author(s):  
Julianna C Hsing ◽  
Jasmin Ma ◽  
Alejandra Barrero-Castillero ◽  
Shilpa G Jani ◽  
Uma Palam Pulendran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Perceived Severity ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
United States Mexico

Background Health behavior is influenced by culture and social context. However, there are limited data evaluating the scope of these influences on COVID-19 response. Objective This study aimed to compare handwashing and social distancing practices in different countries and evaluate practice predictors using the health belief model (HBM). Methods From April 11 to May 1, 2020, we conducted an online, cross-sectional survey disseminated internationally via social media. Participants were adults aged 18 years or older from four different countries: the United States, Mexico, Hong Kong (China), and Taiwan. Primary outcomes were self-reported handwashing and social distancing practices during COVID-19. Predictors included constructs of the HBM: perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action. Associations of these constructs with behavioral outcomes were assessed by multivariable logistic regression. Results We analyzed a total of 71,851 participants, with 3070 from the United States, 3946 from Mexico, 1201 from Hong Kong (China), and 63,634 from Taiwan. Of these countries, respondents from the United States adhered to the most social distancing practices (χ23=2169.7, P<.001), while respondents from Taiwan performed the most handwashing (χ23=309.8, P<.001). Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that self-efficacy was a positive predictor for handwashing (odds ratio [OR]United States 1.58, 95% CI 1.21-2.07; ORMexico 1.5, 95% CI 1.21-1.96; ORHong Kong 2.48, 95% CI 1.80-3.44; ORTaiwan 2.30, 95% CI 2.21-2.39) and social distancing practices (ORUnited States 1.77, 95% CI 1.24-2.49; ORMexico 1.77, 95% CI 1.40-2.25; ORHong Kong 3.25, 95% CI 2.32-4.62; ORTaiwan 2.58, 95% CI 2.47-2.68) in all countries. Handwashing was positively associated with perceived susceptibility in Mexico, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, while social distancing was positively associated with perceived severity in the United States, Mexico, and Taiwan. Conclusions Social media recruitment strategies can be used to reach a large audience during a pandemic. Self-efficacy was the strongest predictor for handwashing and social distancing. Policies that address relevant health beliefs can facilitate adoption of necessary actions for preventing COVID-19. Our findings may be explained by the timing of government policies, the number of cases reported in each country, individual beliefs, and cultural context.

scholarly journals Threat, Coping, and Social Distance Adherence During COVID-19: Cross-Continental Comparison Using an Online Cross-Sectional Survey

10.2196/23019 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. e23019
Author(s):  
Abrar Al-Hasan ◽  
Jiban Khuntia ◽  
Dobin Yim
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Information Source ◽  
The United States ◽  
Seemingly Unrelated Regression ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Unrelated Regression ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Appraisal Processes

Background Social distancing is an effective preventative policy for COVID-19 that is enforced by governments worldwide. However, significant variations are observed in adherence to social distancing across individuals and countries. Due to the lack of treatment, rapid spread, and prevalence of COVID-19, panic and fear associated with the disease causes great stress. Subsequent effects will be a variation around the coping and mitigation strategies for different individuals following different paths to manage the situation. Objective This study aims to explore how threat and coping appraisal processes work as mechanisms between information and citizens’ adherence to COVID-19–related recommendations (ie, how the information sources and social media influence threat and coping appraisal processes with COVID-19 and how the threat and coping appraisal processes influence adherence to policy guidelines). In addition, this study aims to explore how citizens in three different countries (the United States, Kuwait, and South Korea), randomly sampled, are effectively using the mechanisms. Methods Randomly sampled online survey data collected by a global firm in May 2020 from 162 citizens of the United States, 185 of Kuwait, and 71 of South Korea were analyzed, resulting in a total sample size of 418. A seemingly unrelated regression model, controlling for several counterfactuals, was used for analysis. The study’s focal estimated effects were compared across the three countries using the weighted distance between the parameter estimates. Results The seemingly unrelated regression model estimation results suggested that, overall, the intensity of information source use for the COVID-19 pandemic positively influenced the threat appraisal for the disease (P<.001). Furthermore, the intensity of social media use for the COVID-19 pandemic positively influenced the coping appraisal for the disease (P<.001). Higher COVID-19 threat appraisal had a positive effect on social distancing adherence (P<.001). Higher COVID-19 coping appraisal had a positive effect on social distancing adherence (P<.001). Higher intensity of COVID-19 knowledge positively influenced social distancing adherence (P<.001). There were country-level variations. Broadly, we found that the United States had better results than South Korea and Kuwait in leveraging the information to threat and coping appraisal to the adherence process, indicating that individuals in countries like the United States and South Korea may be more pragmatic to appraise the situation before making any decisions. Conclusions This study’s findings suggest that the mediation of threat and coping strategies are essential, in varying effects, to shape the information and social media strategies for adherence outcomes. Accordingly, coordinating public service announcements along with information source outlets such as mainstream media (eg, TV and newspaper) as well as social media (eg, Facebook and Twitter) to inform citizens and, at the same time, deliver balanced messages about the threat and coping appraisal is critical in implementing a staggered social distancing and sheltering strategy.

scholarly journals Kansans in the Middle of the Pandemic: Risk Perception, Knowledge, Compliance with Preventive Measures, and Primary Sources of Information about COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 160-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mugur Geana
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Health Beliefs ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Midwest United States ◽  
The Times ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Introduction. As we conduct this study, the world is in the grasp of a deadly pandemic. In less than six months since its first diagnosis in Wuhan, China, the COVID-19 infectious disease due to the novel coronavirus has infected over 5,000,000 people and claimed over 350,000 lives. In the United States, most of the cases are in large urban settings along the coasts, but the disease is slowly progressing through the mainland. Kansas, with its particular location in the midwest United States, has seen a relatively small number of cases, but these are increasing. The Kansas government took radical measures to prevent the spread of the disease. According to the Health Beliefs Model, an individual’s perception of risk will dictate engagement with preventive behaviors. Knowledge about the disease and preventive measures drive the risk assessment. Knowledge is dependant on the sources of information used. This study explored these metrics in a sample of Kansans living in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods. A combination of snowball samples and random distribution through social media was used to recruit participants to an online survey. The risk and knowledge instrument was developed and validated by WHO Europe. Data collection lasted 96 hours. Results. The attitudes and behaviors of Kansans concerning COVID-19 were consistent with its location in an area of the country with a relatively lower incidence of the disease. Participants had good knowledge about the disease and preventive measures and were willing to comply with recommendations from local authorities. Conclusion. Localized information sources that cater to the community are often primary, while social media is not a valuable source for information pertinent to COVID-19.

scholarly journals Trusting Social Media as a Source of Health Information: Online Surveys Comparing the United States, Korea, and Hong Kong

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. e25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayeon Song ◽  
Kikuko Omori ◽  
Jihyun Kim ◽  
Kelly E Tenzek ◽  
Jennifer Morey Hawkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Health Information ◽  
The United States ◽  
Online Surveys

scholarly journals Social Media as an Early Proxy for Social Distancing Indicated by the COVID-19 Reproduction Number: Observational Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Younis ◽  
Harvy Freitag ◽  
Jeremy S Ruthberg ◽  
Jonathan P Romanes ◽  
Craig Nielsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
The United States ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Basic Reproductive Number ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Google Search

BACKGROUND  The magnitude and time course of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States depends on early interventions to reduce the basic reproductive number to below 1. It is imperative, then, to develop methods to actively assess where quarantine measures such as social distancing may be deficient and suppress those potential resurgence nodes as early as possible. OBJECTIVE We ask if social media is an early indicator of public social distancing measures in the United States by investigating its correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (R<sub>t</sub>) as compared to social mobility estimates reported from Google and Apple Maps. METHODS  In this observational study, the estimated R<sub>t</sub> was obtained for the period between March 5 and April 5, 2020, using the EpiEstim package. Social media activity was assessed using queries of “social distancing” or “#socialdistancing” on Google Trends, Instagram, and Twitter, with social mobility assessed using Apple and Google Maps data. Cross-correlations were performed between R<sub>t</sub> and social media activity or mobility for the United States. We used Pearson correlations and the coefficient of determination (ρ) with significance set to <i>P</i>&lt;.05. RESULTS Negative correlations were found between Google search interest for “social distancing” and R<sub>t</sub> in the United States (<i>P</i>&lt;.001), and between search interest and state-specific R<sub>t</sub> for 9 states with the highest COVID-19 cases (<i>P</i>&lt;.001); most states experienced a delay varying between 3-8 days before reaching significance. A negative correlation was seen at a 4-day delay from the start of the Instagram hashtag “#socialdistancing” and at 6 days for Twitter (<i>P</i>&lt;.001). Significant correlations between R<sub>t</sub> and social media manifest earlier in time compared to social mobility measures from Google and Apple Maps, with peaks at –6 and –4 days. Meanwhile, changes in social mobility correlated best with R<sub>t</sub> at –2 days and +1 day for workplace and grocery/pharmacy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates the potential use of Google Trends, Instagram, and Twitter as epidemiological tools in the assessment of social distancing measures in the United States during the early course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their correlation and earlier rise and peak in correlative strength with R<sub>t</sub> when compared to social mobility may provide proactive insight into whether social distancing efforts are sufficiently enacted. Whether this proves valuable in the creation of more accurate assessments of the early epidemic course is uncertain due to limitations. These limitations include the use of a biased sample that is internet literate with internet access, which may covary with socioeconomic status, education, geography, and age, and the use of subtotal social media mentions of social distancing. Future studies should focus on investigating how social media reactions change during the course of the epidemic, as well as the conversion of social media behavior to actual physical behavior.

scholarly journals Social Media as an Early Proxy for Social Distancing Indicated by the COVID-19 Reproduction Number: Observational Study

10.2196/21340 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. e21340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Younis ◽  
Harvy Freitag ◽  
Jeremy S Ruthberg ◽  
Jonathan P Romanes ◽  
Craig Nielsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
The United States ◽  
Google Trends ◽  
Basic Reproductive Number ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Google Search

Background  The magnitude and time course of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States depends on early interventions to reduce the basic reproductive number to below 1. It is imperative, then, to develop methods to actively assess where quarantine measures such as social distancing may be deficient and suppress those potential resurgence nodes as early as possible. Objective We ask if social media is an early indicator of public social distancing measures in the United States by investigating its correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt) as compared to social mobility estimates reported from Google and Apple Maps. Methods  In this observational study, the estimated Rt was obtained for the period between March 5 and April 5, 2020, using the EpiEstim package. Social media activity was assessed using queries of “social distancing” or “#socialdistancing” on Google Trends, Instagram, and Twitter, with social mobility assessed using Apple and Google Maps data. Cross-correlations were performed between Rt and social media activity or mobility for the United States. We used Pearson correlations and the coefficient of determination (ρ) with significance set to P<.05. Results Negative correlations were found between Google search interest for “social distancing” and Rt in the United States (P<.001), and between search interest and state-specific Rt for 9 states with the highest COVID-19 cases (P<.001); most states experienced a delay varying between 3-8 days before reaching significance. A negative correlation was seen at a 4-day delay from the start of the Instagram hashtag “#socialdistancing” and at 6 days for Twitter (P<.001). Significant correlations between Rt and social media manifest earlier in time compared to social mobility measures from Google and Apple Maps, with peaks at –6 and –4 days. Meanwhile, changes in social mobility correlated best with Rt at –2 days and +1 day for workplace and grocery/pharmacy, respectively. Conclusions Our study demonstrates the potential use of Google Trends, Instagram, and Twitter as epidemiological tools in the assessment of social distancing measures in the United States during the early course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their correlation and earlier rise and peak in correlative strength with Rt when compared to social mobility may provide proactive insight into whether social distancing efforts are sufficiently enacted. Whether this proves valuable in the creation of more accurate assessments of the early epidemic course is uncertain due to limitations. These limitations include the use of a biased sample that is internet literate with internet access, which may covary with socioeconomic status, education, geography, and age, and the use of subtotal social media mentions of social distancing. Future studies should focus on investigating how social media reactions change during the course of the epidemic, as well as the conversion of social media behavior to actual physical behavior.

scholarly journals Citizens’ Adherence to COVID-19 Mitigation Recommendations by the Government: A 3-Country Comparative Evaluation Using Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey Data

10.2196/20634 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. e20634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abrar Al-Hasan ◽  
Dobin Yim ◽  
Jiban Khuntia
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Comparative Evaluation ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ordered Probit ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Government

Background Social distancing is an effective preventative policy for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that is enforced by governments worldwide. However, significant variations are observed in following the policy across individuals and countries. Arguably, differences in citizens’ adherence actions will be influenced by their perceptions about government’s plans and the information available to guide their behaviors—more so in the digital age in the realm of mass influence of social media on citizens. Insights into the underlying factors and dynamics involved with citizens’ adherence process will inform the policy makers to follow appropriate communication and messaging approaches to influence citizens’ willingness to adhere to the recommendations. Objective The aim of this study is a comparative evaluation of citizens’ adherence process to COVID-19–relevant recommendations by the government. The focus is on how three different countries’ (United States, Kuwait, and South Korea) citizens, randomly sampled, respond to governments’ pandemic guidance efforts. We draw insights into two categories of perceived government roles in managing the pandemic: (1) citizens’ perceptions of government’s role in responding to the pandemic and (2) citizens’ perceptions of government’s business reopening efforts. Undoubtedly, the internet and social media have burgeoned, with differing effects on shaping individuals’ views and assessments of the COVID-19 situation; we argue and test for the effects of information sources, social media use, and knowledge on the adherence actions. Methods We randomly sampled web-based survey data collected by a global firm in May 2020 from citizens of the United States, Kuwait, and South Korea. A nonlinear ordered probit regression, controlling for several counterfactuals, was used for analysis. The focal estimated effects of the study were compared across countries using the weighted distance between the parameter estimates. Results The total sample size was 482 respondents, of which 207 (43%) lived in the United States, 181 (38%) lived in Kuwait, and 94 (20%) lived in South Korea. The ordered probit estimation results suggest that overall, perception of government response efforts positively influenced self-adherence (P<.001) and others’ adherence (P<.001) to social distancing and sheltering. Perception of government business reopening efforts positively influenced others’ adherence (P<.001). A higher intensity of general health information source for COVID-19 had a positive effect on self-adherence (P=.003). A higher intensity of social media source use for COVID-19 positively influenced others’ adherence (P=.002). A higher intensity of knowledge on COVID-19 positively influenced self-adherence (P=.008) and negatively influenced others’ adherence (P<.001). There were country-level variations—broadly, the United States and Kuwait had better effects than South Korea. Conclusions As the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to grow and governmental restrictions are ongoing, it is critical to understand people’s frustration to reduce panic and promote social distancing to facilitate the control of the pandemic. This study finds that the government plays a central role in terms of adherence to restrictions. Governments need to enhance their efforts on publicizing information on the pandemic, as well as employ strategies for improved communication management to citizens through social media as well as mainstream information sources.

scholarly journals The digital life of the #migrantcaravan: Contextualizing Twitter as a spatial technology

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 205395172097848
Author(s):  
Margath A Walker ◽  
Emmanuel Frimpong Boamah
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
The United States ◽  
Central American ◽  
Contextual Knowledge ◽  
Digital World ◽  
The Us ◽  
And Migration ◽  
United States Mexico ◽  
Spatial Technology

The Central American migrant caravans of 2018 are best understood as having been precipitated by entangled multi-scalar geopolitical histories among the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Unsurprisingly, the migrants traveling north to the United States garnered widespread attention on social media. So much so that the reaction to the caravan accelerated plans to deploy troops to the US southern border and deny Central Americans the opportunity to seek asylum. This example showcases how the digital world can have exponential material effects. While coverage on border security and migration has been extensive, within political geography, such concerns have rarely been paired with social media. In this article, we take as our object of analysis the digitality or “digital life” of the migrant caravan. Mapping the patterns of migrant caravan-related tweeting paired with the exploration of Twitter’s networked dimensions reveals the platform to be a fundamentally spatial technology. Rather than reflect, refract or distort, Twitter produces and (its power) is in turn produced through spatial mechanisms. We present multiple cartographic visualizations in support of this claim and highlight the ways in which a contextual knowledge of the subject under study—the migrant caravan—can further inform analyses of Big Data.

scholarly journals Hong Kong Unraveled: Social Media and the 2019 Protest Movement

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anonymous
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
The United States ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Middle Ground ◽  
Protest Movement ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
Left Behind

Social media played a toxic role in the Hong Kong protests of 2019, overwhelming diverse voices and taxing mainstream media to a degree that it relinquished traditional principles of discovery and balance. As in other places where social media has mixed with politics, it helped polarize the Hong Kong public and dominated international views of the protests. Among other consequences, Hong Kong became a pawn in geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States, in part because both China and the United States accepted the view that Hong Kong was in the throes of full-fledged rebellion. Left behind were voices in the middle ground, the business community, and others who were mostly silent witnesses as Hong Kong devolved into widely traded scenes of violent protest.

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