Predicting College Students' Preventative Behavior During a Pandemic
The Role of the Health Belief Model, Source Credibility, and Health Literacy
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3758160 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ifeoluwatobi Abiodun Odunsi (0000-0002-8129-8296, Ohio University, corresponding author), Kristen L Farris (0000-0003-4477-3606, Texas State University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 69 |
| Issue | 12 |
| Pages | 1516-1533 |
| Publication date | 2025-11-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | American Behavioral Scientist (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0002-7642 • E-ISSN: 1552-3381 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00027642231164044 |
| OpenAlex | W4365146280 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 53 |
In this study, we examined the effects of perceived source credibility of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and college student health literacy in predicting the likelihood of enacting preventative behaviors related to mitigating COVID-19. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as an explanatory tool, we analyzed how perceived source credibility and health literacy levels predict college students' likelihood to enact preventative behaviors during a public health crisis. Sample population entirely consisted of undergraduate students enrolled in a basic communication course at a large, southern university. The participants completed survey questionnaires about their perceived health literacy, health beliefs, trust in the CDC, perceptions of COVID-19, and demographic measures during the fall 2020 semester. A multiple regression analysis revealed that (a) HBM predictors, health literacy and CDC source credibility accounted for 44% of the variance in likelihood of enacting preventative health behaviors, and (b) health literacy, CDC source credibility, and perceived severity were all positive predictors of enacting preventative health behaviors, while (c) perceived barriers negatively predicted enactment of preventative health behaviors. Perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits were not significant predictors of college student risk mitigation. Our data suggests the importance of health literacy and source credibility in predicting college students' likelihood to enact preventative behaviors during public health crises
Credibility · Environmental health · Health belief model · Health care · Health education · Health literacy · Literacy · Political science · Public health · Source credibility · Clinical Psychology · Media Influence and Health · Medicine · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Nursing · Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
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| Citations per year | 0.33 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2023 - 2023 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |