The Moderating Effects of Perceived Severity on the Generational Gap in Preventive Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S.
Abstract
1. Introduction
1.1. Background
1.2. Hypotheses
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Data Collection and Respondent Profile
2.2. Variables and Measurements
3. Results
3.1. Generational Gaps in Perceived Severity of COVID-19
3.2. Generational Gaps in Preventive Actions for COVID-19
3.3. Moderating Effect of Perceived Severity
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Respondent Profile | n | % |
---|---|---|
Gender | ||
Male | 798 | 43.3 |
Female | 1045 | 56.7 |
Age | ||
18–24 | 191 | 10.4 |
25–39 | 521 | 28.3 |
40–54 | 354 | 19.2 |
55 and above | 777 | 42.2 |
Race/Ethnicity | ||
Caucasian/White(non-Hispanic) | 1413 | 76.7 |
Black/African American | 175 | 9.5 |
Latino/Hispanic | 115 | 6.2 |
Asian/Pacific Islander | 91 | 4.9 |
Native American/American Indian | 16 | .9 |
Other | 33 | 1.8 |
Annual Income | ||
$20,000 or under | 392 | 21.3 |
$20,001 or 40,000 | 391 | 21.2 |
$40,001–$60,000 | 320 | 17.4 |
$60,001–$80,000 | 264 | 14.3 |
$80,001–$100,000 | 161 | 8.7 |
$100,001 and higher | 315 | 17.1 |
Educational Level | ||
Less than higher school | 41 | 2.2 |
High school diploma or equivalent | 343 | 18.6 |
Some college but no degree | 402 | 21.8 |
Associate or technical degree | 228 | 12.4 |
Bachelor’s degree | 521 | 28.3 |
Master’s degree | 260 | 14.1 |
Doctoral degree | 48 | 2.6 |
Political Partisanship | ||
Democrat | 736 | 39.9 |
Republican | 615 | 33.4 |
Independent | 447 | 24.3 |
Other | 45 | 2.4 |
Survey Questions | Measurement | |
---|---|---|
Outcome Variables | ||
Perceived Severity (Cronbach α = 0.79) | I believe that COVID-19 is a deadly disease. | 5-point scale where 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree |
I believe that COVID-19 can bring severe health problems. | ||
I believe that COVID-19 is a serious threat to my health. | ||
Preventive Actions (Cronbach α = 0.76) | Clean hands often. | 5-point scale where 1 = least likely and 5 = most likely |
Wear a face mask outside. | ||
Limit outdoor activities. | ||
Avoid attending mass gathering. | ||
Keep social distance with others. | ||
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. | ||
Independent Variable | ||
Age | Please select your age from the following choices. | 1 = Generation Z (18–24) 2 = Generation Y (25–39) 3 = Generation X (40–54) 4 = Baby Boomers (55 and above) |
Control Variables | ||
Gender | What’s your gender? | 1 = male and 0 = female |
Partisanship | Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as a Republican, Democrat, independent, or what? | 1 = Independent 2 = Republican 3 = Democrat |
Ethnicity | Which of the following best describes your racial/ethnic identity? | 1 = White 2 = Non-white (i.e., African Americans) |
Education | What is the highest degree or level of education you have completed? | 1 = less than high school diploma … and 7 = doctorate degree |
Income | What is your annual income? | 1 = $20,000 or under … and 6 = $100,001 and higher |
Location | What is the state where you are living in? | 1 = most affected states (NY, CA, FL, LA, IL, MA, MI, NJ, PA) 0 = less affected states (the other 41 states) |
Personal Relevance | Is there anyone you know (e.g., family members, friends, colleagues, acquaintances) who have confirmed or suspected COVID-19? | 1 = yes 0 = no |
COVID information (Cronbach α = 0.83) | How much COVID-related information have you received from each of the following communication channels? (Broadcast television news, Cable television news, Print newspapers, Radio, Online News, Facebook, Twitter, Friends and family). | 5-point scale where 1 = not at all and 5 = a great deal |
Perceive Severity | Preventive Actions | Preventive Actions | |
---|---|---|---|
Model 1 (H1) | Model 2 (H2) | Model 3 (H3) | |
Gen Y | 0.21(0.002) ** | 0.10(0.032) * | −0.19(0.414) |
Gen X | 0.33(0.000) *** | 0.28(0.000) *** | 0.50(0.045) * |
Baby Boomers | 0.55(0.000) *** | 0.41(0.000) *** | 0.65(0.005) ** |
Perceived Severity (PS) | - | - | 0.36(0.000) *** |
PS X Gen Y | - | - | 0.05(0.355) |
PS X Gen X | - | - | −0.08(0.191) |
PS X Baby Boomers | - | - | −0.10(0.037) * |
Male | −0.06(0.135) | −0.16(0.000) *** | −0.14(0.000) *** |
Republicans | −0.04(0.47) | −0.04(0.288) | −0.03(0.403) |
Democrats | 0.18(0.000) *** | 0.09(0.026) * | 0.03(0.373) |
White | 0.11(0.022) * | −0.02(0.575) | −0.06(0.106) |
Educational Level | 0.003(0.821) | −0.003(0.765) | −0.01(0.596) |
Household Income | 0.01(0.347) | 0.01(0.238) | 0.01(0.451) |
Most Affected States | −0.01(0.853) | 0.06(0.054) | 0.06(0.025) * |
Personal Relevance | 0.03(0.468) | −0.05(0.20) | −0.05(0.107) |
COVID information | 0.19(0.000) *** | 0.21(0.000) *** | 0.15(0.000) *** |
constant | 3.05(0.000) *** | 3.43(0.000) *** | 2.32(0.000) *** |
N of obs | 1798 | 1798 | 1798 |
R2 | 0.09 *** | 0.12 *** | 0.26 *** |
Perceived Severity (Model 1) | Preventive Actions (Model 2) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
diff. | p-Value | diff. | p-Value | |
Gen Z vs. Gen Y | −0.21 | 0.011 | −0.10 | 0.249 |
Gen Z vs. Gen X | −0.33 | 0.000 | −0.28 | 0.000 |
Gen Z vs. Baby Boomers | −0.55 | 0.000 | −0.41 | 0.000 |
Gen Y vs. Baby Boomers | −0.34 | 0.000 | −0.31 | 0.000 |
Gen X vs. Baby Boomers | −0.22 | 0.000 | −0.13 | 0.013 |
Gen X vs. Gen Y | 0.12 | 0.121 | 0.17 | 0.001 |
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Luo, Y.; Cheng, Y.; Sui, M. The Moderating Effects of Perceived Severity on the Generational Gap in Preventive Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 2011. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042011
Luo Y, Cheng Y, Sui M. The Moderating Effects of Perceived Severity on the Generational Gap in Preventive Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(4):2011. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042011
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuo, Yunjuan, Yang Cheng, and Mingxiao Sui. 2021. "The Moderating Effects of Perceived Severity on the Generational Gap in Preventive Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 4: 2011. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042011
APA StyleLuo, Y., Cheng, Y., & Sui, M. (2021). The Moderating Effects of Perceived Severity on the Generational Gap in Preventive Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 2011. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042011