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Understanding the impact of information sources on COVID-19 related preventive measures in Finland

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  • Farooq, Ali
  • Laato, Samuli
  • Islam, A.K.M. Najmul
  • Isoaho, Jouni

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the influence of information reporting on human behavior, as people were forced to quickly adapt to a new health threatening situation by relying on new information. Drawing from protection-motivation and cognitive load theories, we formulated a structural model eliciting the impact of the three online information sources: (1) social media, (2) official websites, and (3) other online news sources; on motivation to adopt recommended COVID-19 preventive measures. The model was tested with the data collected from university employees and students (n = 225) in March 2020 through an online survey and analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). We observed that social media and other online news sources increased information overload amongst the online information sources. This, in turn, negatively affected individuals' self-isolation intention by increasing perceived response costs and decreasing response efficacy. The study highlights the role of online information sources on preventive behaviors during pandemics.

Suggested Citation

  • Farooq, Ali & Laato, Samuli & Islam, A.K.M. Najmul & Isoaho, Jouni, 2021. "Understanding the impact of information sources on COVID-19 related preventive measures in Finland," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:65:y:2021:i:c:s0160791x21000488
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101573
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Khan, Nawab Ali & Azhar, Mohd & Rahman, Mohd Nayyer & Akhtar, Mohd Junaid, 2022. "Scale development and validation for usage of social networking sites during COVID-19," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
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    6. Raj, Chahat & Meel, Priyanka, 2022. "People lie, actions Don't! Modeling infodemic proliferation predictors among social media users," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    7. Sirola, Anu & Nuckols, Julia & Nyrhinen, Jussi & Wilska, Terhi-Anna, 2022. "The use of the Dark Web as a COVID-19 information source: A three-country study," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    8. Peer Henri Kieweg & Stefanie Schöberl & Gabriele Palozzi, 2021. "The Role of Communication In COVID-19 Crisis Management: Findings about Information Behavior of German and Italian Young People," International Journal of Business Research and Management (IJBRM), Computer Science Journals (CSC Journals), vol. 12(5), pages 263-288, October.
    9. Lozano-Blasco, Raquel & Quilez-Robres, Alberto & Delgado-Bujedo, Diego & Latorre-Martínez, Mª Pilar, 2021. "YouTube's growth in use among children 0–5 during COVID19: The Occidental European case," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
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