This study investigated COVID-19 preventive behaviors in young adults, exploring the predictive roles of health locus of control and pandemic fear. A sample of 188 Italian young adults (Mage = 22.76, SDage = 1.95; 85% girls) completed an anonymous online survey assessing preventive behaviors, health locus of control styles (i.e. internal, chance, powerful others), and two dimensions of pandemic fear. Fear for COVID-19 consequences—but not general fear for contagion—significantly predicted prevention behaviors, and it also moderated the relationships between each health locus of control style and preventive behaviors. Our findings have relevant implications for research and social policies.
A model to understand {COVID}-19 preventive behaviors in young adults: Health locus of control and pandemic-related fear / Bianchi, Dora; Lonigro, Antonia; Di Norcia, Anna; Di Tata, Daniele; Pompili, Sara; Zammuto, Marta; Cannoni, Eleonora; Longobardi, Emiddia; Laghi, Fiorenzo. - In: JOURNAL OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY. - ISSN 1359-1053. - (2022), pp. 1-16. [10.1177/13591053221089722]
A model to understand {COVID}-19 preventive behaviors in young adults: Health locus of control and pandemic-related fear
Dora Bianchi;Anna Di Norcia;Daniele Di Tata;Sara Pompili;Marta Zammuto;Eleonora Cannoni;Emiddia Longobardi;Fiorenzo Laghi
2022
Abstract
This study investigated COVID-19 preventive behaviors in young adults, exploring the predictive roles of health locus of control and pandemic fear. A sample of 188 Italian young adults (Mage = 22.76, SDage = 1.95; 85% girls) completed an anonymous online survey assessing preventive behaviors, health locus of control styles (i.e. internal, chance, powerful others), and two dimensions of pandemic fear. Fear for COVID-19 consequences—but not general fear for contagion—significantly predicted prevention behaviors, and it also moderated the relationships between each health locus of control style and preventive behaviors. Our findings have relevant implications for research and social policies.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
