Antecedents of Risk Perception and Compliance With Public Health Guidance During COVID-19–Model Questionnaire

Abstract

The Antecedents of Risk Perception and Compliance With Public Health Guidance During COVID-19—Model (Kim, Lee, & Dai, 2023) was developed to assess how misinformation exposure exacerbates behavioral responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the study aimed to examine whether and how consuming misinformation would predict public trust in health and political institutions, and in turn, shape risk perception and adherence to preventive behaviors. The proposed items were adapted from previous research or selected from a pilot study, drawing inspiration from works such as Lang & Hallman (2005), Liu & Yang (2020), and Witte et al. (1996). Data for the model’s development and validation were collected from a sample of US adults. The research comprehensively reported on the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the developed measurement model, providing a robust foundation for its application in understanding public health compliance during crises.

Keywords

COVID-19 Misinformation Exposure; Trust in Public Health Experts; Trust in Government; Perceived Severity; Compliance with Public Health Guidance; Risk Perception; Compliance; Government Policy Making; Trust (Social Behavior); Health Attitude Measures; Health Information; COVID-19; Public Health Attitudes; Misinformation.

Authors

Kim, Ji Won; Lee, Jiyoung; Dai, Yue

Purpose

The primary purpose of this measurement model is to assess the intricate relationship between misinformation exposure and behavioral responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. It specifically aims to understand how consuming misinformation influences public trust in health and political institutions, which subsequently impacts risk perception and adherence to preventive public health behaviors.

Validity

The measurement model demonstrates strong validity, with both convergent and discriminant validity established. For convergent validity, the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) value for each construct was found to be at or above the recommended threshold of 0.50. Additionally, the reliability of all constructs ranged between 0.80 and 0.99, indicating an acceptable level of convergent validity, consistent with guidelines from Hair et al. (2010). Regarding discriminant validity, the AVE value for each construct was greater than its squared correlations with other latent constructs. This finding confirms that all latent constructs within the model are distinct and separate, further supporting the robust validity of the measure.

Reliability

The reliability of the constructs within the measurement model was assessed using internal consistency. The Composite Reliability (CR) values for the various constructs ranged from 0.80 to 0.99, indicating a high level of internal consistency across all measures. This demonstrates that the items within each construct are highly correlated and consistently measure the intended concept.

Factor Analysis

A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to evaluate the fit of the measurement model. The results indicate a good fit to the data, with the following fit indices reported: χ² = 1533.373, df = 336, CFI = 0.967, TLI = 0.963, RMSEA = 0.050, and SRMR = 0.045. These values suggest that the hypothesized factor structure adequately represents the relationships among the observed variables and latent constructs.

Instrument: Antecedents of Risk Perception and Compliance With Public Health Guidance During COVID-19—Model

Test Type: Original Inventory/Questionnaire

Format: Items are rated using 5-point and 7-point Likert scales.

Language Available: English

Population Group: Human (Male and Female)

Age Group: Adulthood (18 years and older)

Population Details: The study respondents were adults located in the United States.

Test Methodology: The methodology involved Test Validity (Convergent Validity, Discriminant Validity), Test Reliability (Internal Consistency), and Factor Analysis (Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Measurement Model).

Keywords

Public Health Guidance During COVID-19; COVID-19 Risk Perceptions; Public Health Compliance; COVID-19 Misinformation Exposure; Trust in Public Health Experts; Trust in Government; Perceived Severity; Compliance with Public Health Guidance.

Authors

Kim, Ji Won

• Author ORCID Identifier: 0000-0001-6680-2258

• Affiliation: City University of Hong Kong, Department of Media and Communication

• Email addresses: [email protected]

• Correspondence Address: City University of Hong Kong, Department of Media and Communication, 5/F, Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre, 18 Tat Hong Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China, M5085, [email protected]

Lee, Jiyoung

• Author ORCID Identifier: 0000-0002-0800-9355

• Affiliation: Sungkyunkwan University, Department of Media and Communication

• Email addresses: No data is Available

Dai, Yue

• Author ORCID Identifier: No data is Available

• Affiliation: City University of Hong Kong, Department of Media and Communication

• Email addresses: No data is Available

files

No file is available

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: Contact Publisher

Fee: No

Test Year: 2023

References

Kim, J. W., Lee, J., & Dai, Y. (2023). Misinformation and the Paradox of Trust during the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S.: Pathways to Risk perception and compliance behaviors. Journal of Risk Research, 26(5), 469–484. doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2023.2176910

Items of the Antecedents of Risk Perception and Compliance With Public Health Guidance During COVID-19—Model

This is a 28-item measure. The items are located in Table 2, Page 479 of the source reference (Kim, Lee, & Dai, 2023). The items are organized into the following factors:

• COVID-19 misinformation exposure

• Trust in public health experts

• Trust in government

• Perceived severity

• Compliance with public health guidance

Antecedents of Risk Perception and Compliance With Public Health Guidance During COVID-19—Model

Items for each construct

Covid-19 misinformation exposure

1. The US hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths so they can be paid more.

2. 99% of COVID-19 cases are harmless.

3. Mask wearing is more harmful to health because it reduces oxygen intake and increases the risk of CO2 poisoning.

4. Hydroxychloroquine is proven to treat COVID-19.

Trust in public health experts

1. Public health experts are competent enough to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Public health experts are doing a good job with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Public health experts provide all relevant information about the COVID-19 pandemic to the public.

4. Public health experts are acting in the public interest with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.

5. Public health experts listen to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic raised by the public.

6. Public health experts are telling the truth regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trust in government

1. The government is competent enough to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. The government is doing a good job with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. The government provides all relevant information about the COVID-19 pandemic to the public.

4. The government is acting in the public interest with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic.

5. The government listens to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic raised by the public.

6. The government is telling the truth regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perceived severity

1. I believe that COVID-19 is a deadly disease.

2. I believe that COVID-19 causes serious health problems.

3. I believe that COVID-19 is a fatal virus.

Compliance with public health guidance

1. Stay home and only leave your house for essential journeys.

2. If you do go out, stay 6 feet apart from other people at all times.

3. Avoid going to crowded places, such as bars and restaurants.

4. Avoid meetings, events, and other social gatherings.

5. Wash your hands with soap and water often for at least 20 seconds.

6. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

7. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

8. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and then, throw the used tissue in the trash.

9. Wear a face covering or face mask while you are being outside.

Note

COVID-19 misinformation exposure items are measured on a 5-point scale (1 = not at all, 5 = a lot); Trust in public health experts, Trust in government, and Perceived severity items are rated using a 7-point scale (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree); Compliance with public health guidance items are rated using a scale ranging from 1 = “not at all”, 7 “all of the time”.