Mediating Effects of Risk Perception on Association between Social Support and Coping with COVID-19: An Online Survey

Dian-Jeng Li, Nai-Ying Ko, Yu-Ping Chang, Cheng-Fang Yen and Yi-Lung Chen
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Dian-Jeng Li: Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 80708, Taiwan
Nai-Ying Ko: Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City 70140, Taiwan
Yu-Ping Chang: School of Nursing, The State University of New York, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
Cheng-Fang Yen: Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 80708, Taiwan
Yi-Lung Chen: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung City 41354, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel infectious disease which has had a great impact on the public. Further investigations are, therefore, needed to investigate how the public copes with COVID-19. This study aimed to develop a model to estimate the mediating effects of risk perception and confidence on the association between perceived social support and active coping with the COVID-19 pandemic among people in Taiwan. The data of 1970 participants recruited from a Facebook advertisement were analyzed. Perceived social support, active coping with COVID-19, risk perception and confidence were evaluated using self-administered questionnaires. Structural equation modeling was used to verify the direct and indirect effects between variables. The mediation model demonstrated that lower perceived social support was significantly associated with a higher level of active coping with COVID-19, and this was mediated by a higher level of risk perception. The present study identified the importance of risk perception on the public’s coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: risk perception; confidence; social support; coping strategy; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 (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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