Digital and physical factors influencing an individual's preventive behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan: A perspective based on the S–O–R model. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Jen-Her; Robinson, Simon; Tsemg, Jing-Shiang; Hsu, Yu-Ping; Hsieh, Ming-Che; Chen, Yi-Cheng
• Is Part Of: Computers in human behavior. Volume 139(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) -- Digital and physical stimuli -- Social pressure -- Social distancing -- Personal hygiene; Interactive computer systems -- Periodicals; Man-machine systems -- Periodicals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2022.107525
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0747-5632

Abstract

Abstract: COVID-19 has caused considerable stress to individuals and communities. Daily press briefings on public health during the COVID-19 pandemic have increased individuals' feelings of social pressure. Abrupt changes to a person's immediate environment, such as the changes caused by COVID-19, can substantially affect their mental health and cognitive adjustment. On the basis of the stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) framework, we examined the effects of digital and physical stimuli related to COVID-19 in Taiwan on individuals' psychological states and preventive behavior, including social distancing and personal hygiene. The data obtained from 498 valid survey questionnaires indicated that digital and physical factors including informativeness, social pressure, and severity exerted direct effects on cognitive assimilation and anxiety, which in turn affected individuals' preventive behavior. Moreover, cognitive assimilation and anxiety had significant mediating effects on the relationships of informativeness, social pressure, and severity with individuals' preventive behavior. The results of this study indicate how digital and physical stimulus factors affect cognitive assimilation and anxiety, which influence preventive behavior during a pandemic. Highlights: We examine impacts of digital/physical stimuli on preventive behavior in COVID-19. Digital and physical stimuli directly affect cognitive assimilation and anxiety. An individual's psychological states affect his or her preventive behavior. Cognitive assimilation mediates the effects of digital and physical stimuli. Anxiety significantly mediates the effects of social pressure and severity.