Fear of COVID-19 and Trust in the Healthcare System Mediates the Association between Individual’s Risk Perception and Preventive COVID-19 Behaviours among Iranians

Mehran Alijanzadeh, Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu, Zainab Alimoradi, Narges Mahmoudi, Mark D. Griffiths, Chung-Ying Lin, Hsien-Kuan Liu and Amir H. Pakpour
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Mehran Alijanzadeh: Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin 3419759811, Iran
Daniel Kwasi Ahorsu: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Rd Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
Zainab Alimoradi: Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin 3419759811, Iran
Narges Mahmoudi: Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin 3419759811, Iran
Mark D. Griffiths: Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG3 5DS, UK
Chung-Ying Lin: Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701401, Taiwan
Hsien-Kuan Liu: Department of Pediatrics, E-DA Hospital, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
Amir H. Pakpour: Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin 3419759811, Iran

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-9

Abstract: Problems caused by the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and its mutations have brought challenges in pandemic control for all countries worldwide. The present study examines the mediating roles of fear of COVID-19 and trust in the healthcare system in the association between individual’s risk perception and performing preventive COVID-19 behaviours among Iranians. A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 3652 residents of Qazvin province in Iran from 3 February to 15 April 2021 using a multistage stratified cluster sampling method. Participants responded to an online questionnaire concerning their fear of COVID-19, risk perception, trust in the healthcare system, and preventive COVID-19 behaviours. Small to medium positive interrelationships were observed between the variables of the study. Fear of COVID-19, trust in the healthcare system or both (fear of COVID-19 and trust in the healthcare system) mediated the association between an individual’s risk perception and performing preventive COVID-19 behaviours. The study demonstrated there are at least four ways through which an individual’s risk perception can influence preventive COVID-19 behaviours. Therefore, clinicians, health communicators, and researchers may capitalize on these findings to enhance preventive COVID-19 behaviours to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; fear of COVID-19; trust in the healthcare system; risk perception; preventive COVID-19 behaviours (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 (3)

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