Factors Affecting COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors among University Students in Beijing, China: An Empirical Study Based on the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior

Jiabin Li, Xianwei Liu, Yang Zou, Yichu Deng, Meng Zhang, Miaomiao Yu, Dongjiao Wu, Hao Zheng and Xinliang Zhao
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Jiabin Li: Advising Center for Student Development, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Xianwei Liu: Institute of Higher Education, Research Centre for Capital Engineering Education Development, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Yang Zou: College of Business Administration, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing 100070, China
Yichu Deng: Publicity Department, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Meng Zhang: School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 102616, China
Miaomiao Yu: Institute of Education Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Dongjiao Wu: School of Marxism, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Hao Zheng: China Youth & Children Research Center, Beijing 100089, China
Xinliang Zhao: Beijing Academy of Educational Sciences, Beijing 100045, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: Higher education institutions (HEIs), among other social systems, have an irreplaceable role in combating COVID-19. However, we know little about institutional and individual factors that might facilitate university students’ beliefs and behaviors toward preventive behaviors for COVID-19 within the higher education context. Our study applies an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) model to investigate the structural relationships among the institutional climate, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and preventive behaviors of university students and to detect the moderating impacts of perceived risk on the structural model. Data were collected from 3693 university students at 18 universities in Beijing, China through an online survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and multigroup analysis were performed to examine the empirical model. The results reveal that (1) the institutional climate has a significant, direct effect on preventive behaviors for COVID-19 among university students, (2) the TPB components, namely attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control, partially mediate the relationship between the institutional climate and preventive behaviors for COVID-19, and (3) perceived risk moderates several paths in the model. Theoretical and practical implications are offered, and recommendations for future research are outlined.

Keywords: institutional climate; COVID-19 preventive behaviors; extended theory of planned behavior; university students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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