Network-Exposure Severity and Self-Protective Behaviors: The Case of COVID-19.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

To clarify whether awareness of the extent and severity of exposure to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the social networks of older adults is related to the engagement by the latter in self-protective behaviors. The inquiry is guided by the Health Belief Model and by concepts from the domain of social networks.

Research design and methods

Data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were used, including the SHARE COVID-19 Survey executed in the summer of 2020. The study sample numbered 33,053 persons aged 50 and older in 26 countries. We regressed a logged count of self-protective behaviors on network-exposure severity, controlling for sociodemographic background, country, personality traits, and self-exposure s

SUBMITTER: Litwin H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8136077 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature