Dataset Information

University students' travel risk perceptions and risk-taking willingness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Student travellers are recognised as a group at high risk of travel-related morbidity, but few previous studies have evaluated students' perceptions of or willingness to take risks during travel. Individual risk propensities may influence travellers' engagement in pre-travel healthcare and can therefore inform strategies in pre-travel risk communication. This study aimed to describe the factors influencing risk-taking willingness, risk perceptions and future health-seeking intention among student travellers.

Method

We conducted a cross-sectional online survey (June-August 2021) among students enrolled at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Primary outcomes were travel-related risk-taking willingness and risk perceptions, measured using the health/safety items of the validated Domain-Specific Risk-Taking (DOSPERT) scale.

Results

Four hundred and eighteen students completed the survey. The mean age of respondents was 25.61 years, 78% were female and 46% were born outside Australia. Greater willingness to take risks was predicted by younger age (<25 years), being Australian-born, greater travel experience (3+ trips), having previously sought PTA, and perceiving oneself at low risk of severe COVID-19. We found no significant predictors of risk perception. Increased intention to seek pre-travel advice in the future was associated with greater risk perception, younger age, and perceiving oneself at high risk of severe COVID-19.

Conclusion

These findings support the rationale for a greater role of risk communication in travel medicine promotion strategies. We recommend that this could be achieved through 1) increasing risk perception by emphasising potential travel-associated risks, 2) personalising information about travel risks, 3) addressing perceived benefits of engaging in risky behaviours, and 4) reinforcing self-efficacy.

SUBMITTER: Akritidis J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9617625 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

University students' travel risk perceptions and risk-taking willingness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Akritidis Jordan J McGuinness Sarah L SL Leder Karin K

Travel medicine and infectious disease 20221029

<h4>Background</h4>Student travellers are recognised as a group at high risk of travel-related morbidity, but few previous studies have evaluated students' perceptions of or willingness to take risks during travel. Individual risk propensities may influence travellers' engagement in pre-travel healthcare and can therefore inform strategies in pre-travel risk communication. This study aimed to describe the factors influencing risk-taking willingness, risk perceptions and future health-seeking int ...[more]

PMID: 36374786

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Dataset Information

University students' travel risk perceptions and risk-taking willingness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Background

Method

Results

Conclusion

Publications

University students' travel risk perceptions and risk-taking willingness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

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