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The Impact of Social Media Shared Health Content on Protective Behavior against COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Fathey Mohammed

    (School of Computing, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Sintok 06010, Kedah, Malaysia)

  • Nabil Hasan Al-Kumaim

    (Faculty of Technology Management and Technopreneurship, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Durian Tunggal 76100, Melaka, Malaysia)

  • Ahmed Ibrahim Alzahrani

    (Computer Science Department, Community College, King Saud University, Riyadh 11437, Saudi Arabia)

  • Yousef Fazea

    (Department of Computer & Information Technology, Marshall University, 1 John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755, USA)

Abstract

The use of social media has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic because people are isolated and working from home. The use of social media enhances information exchange in society and may influence public protective behavior against the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting public protective behavior when relying on COVID-19 pandemic-related content shared on social media. A model based on Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) was proposed and validated using a quantitative survey approach. A questionnaire was distributed to random respondents, and 488 responses were received and analyzed using Smart-PLS software. The findings showed that perceived risk, e-health literacy, public awareness, and health experts’ participation influence public protective behavior when using social media to share COVID-19-relevant content. The outcomes of this study can enhance government agencies’ and public health care authorities’ understanding of how to use social media to raise awareness and reduce panic among the public.

Suggested Citation

  • Fathey Mohammed & Nabil Hasan Al-Kumaim & Ahmed Ibrahim Alzahrani & Yousef Fazea, 2023. "The Impact of Social Media Shared Health Content on Protective Behavior against COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:1775-:d:1040075
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xiao Gu & Bojan Obrenovic & Wei Fu, 2023. "Empirical Study on Social Media Exposure and Fear as Drivers of Anxiety and Depression during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Andrea Laurent-Simpson, 2023. "COVID-19 and Masking Disparities: Qualitative Analysis of Trust on the CDC’s Facebook Page," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-18, June.

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