Abstract

KOSTER, Michael; CUNHA, Ana Isabel; COSTA, Vítor  and  ALVES, Marta Pereira. Risk Perception and Protective Behaviors Against COVID-19 in Higher Education Students: The Mediating Role of Fear. Av. Psicol. Latinoam. [online]. 2023, vol.41, n.1, 4.  Epub July 14, 2023. ISSN 1794-4724.  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/apl/a.11100.

The study aims to describe the protective behaviors adopted by Portuguese higher education students in during the and to analyze their relationship with the perception of risk and the mediating role of fear of COVID-19. A total of 335 students aged between 18 and 29 participated in the study (m = 21.42; SD = 2.43). Participants completed a survey on protective (i.e., preventive and avoidance) behaviors, risk perception, and fear of COVID-19. The results showed that the most used preventive behaviors were hand washing/disinfection throughout the day and using masks in public streets or outdoor spaces. The most adopted avoidance behaviors were avoiding crowded places and face-to-face interactions with colleagues/ friends. There was a positive correlation between protective behaviors, the perception of severity, and fear of COVID-19. Fear of COVID-19 mediated the relation between the perception of severity and both preventive (c' = .26, IC 95% [.11; .44]) and avoidance (c' = .28, IC 95% [.12; .50]) behaviors. The results are discussed considering the role of risk perception and fear in the behavioral responses of young people in a pandemic context while presenting practical implications and suggestions for future studies.

Keywords : COVID-19; risk perception; protection behaviors; fear of COVID-19; higher education students.

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