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The effect of primary school education on preventive behaviours during COVID-19 in Japan

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  • Eiji Yamamura
  • Yoshiro Tsutsui
  • Fumio Ohtake

Abstract

Education plays a critical role on promoting preventive behaviours against the spread of pandemics. In Japan, hand-washing education in primary schools was positively correlated with preventive behaviours against COVID-19 transmission for adults in 2020 during the early stages of COVID-19 [1]. The following year, the Tokyo Olympics were held in Japan, and a state of emergency was declared several times. Public perceptions of and risks associated with the pandemic changed drastically with the emergence of COVID-19 vaccines. We re-examine whether effect of hand-washing education on preventive behaviours persisted by covering a longer period of the COVID-19 pandemic than previous studies. 26 surveys were conducted nearly once a month for 30 months from March 2020 (the early stage of COVID-19) to September 2022 in Japan. By corresponding with the same individuals across surveys, we comprehensively gathered data on preventive behaviours during this period. In addition, we asked about hand-washing education they had received in their primary school. We used the data to investigate how and the degree to which school education is associated with pandemic mitigating preventive behaviours. We found that hand-washing education in primary school is positively associated with behaviours such as hand washing and mask wearing as a COVID-19 preventive measure, but not related to staying at home. We observed a statistically significant difference in hand washing between adults who received childhood hand-washing education and those who did not. This difference persisted throughout the study period. In comparison, the difference in mask wearing between the two groups was smaller, but still statistically significant. Furthermore, there was no difference in staying at home between them.

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  • Eiji Yamamura & Yoshiro Tsutsui & Fumio Ohtake, 2023. "The effect of primary school education on preventive behaviours during COVID-19 in Japan," Papers 2301.11475, arXiv.org.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2301.11475
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eiji Yamamura, 2010. "The different impacts of socio-economic factors on suicide between males and females," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(10), pages 1009-1012.
    2. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/1mhdgtufmp9u2blp3nkko6i6f3 is not listed on IDEAS
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    5. Eiji Yamamura & Yoshiro Tsustsui, 2021. "The impact of closing schools on working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence using panel data from Japan," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 41-60, March.
    6. Eiji Yamamura & Yoshiro Tsutsui, 2019. "Trade policy preference, childhood sporting experience, and informal school curriculum: An examination of views of the TPP from the viewpoint of behavioral economics," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(1), pages 61-90, February.
    7. Eiji Yamamura & Yoshiro Tsustsui, 2021. "Correction to: The impact of closing schools on working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence using panel data from Japan," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 61-62, March.
    8. YAMAMURA, Eiji & Tsutsui, Yoshiro, 2020. "Impact of closing schools on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence using panel data from Japan," MPRA Paper 105023, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    10. Yamamura, Eiji & Managi, Shunsuke & Tsutsui, Yoshiro, 2019. "Male pupils taught by female homeroom teachers show a higher preference for Corporate Social Responsibility in adulthood," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    11. Yamamura, Eiji & Tsutsui, Yoshiro, 2022. "How does the impact of the COVID-19 state of emergency change? An analysis of preventive behaviors and mental health using panel data in Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    12. Eiji Yamamura, 2022. "Female Teachers’ Effect on Their Pupils’ Voting Behavior and Views on Female Labor Force Participation [Democracy Comes to Europe: Franchise Extension and Fiscal Outcomes 1830–1938]," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 68(2), pages 155-183.
    13. Vladimir M. Cvetković & Neda Nikolić & Una Radovanović Nenadić & Adem Öcal & Eric K. Noji & Miodrag Zečević, 2020. "Preparedness and Preventive Behaviors for a Pandemic Disaster Caused by COVID-19 in Serbia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-23, June.
    14. Eiji Yamamura, 2022. "Childhood Sporting Experience and Charitable Donations to Disaster Victims," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-12, May.
    15. Eiji Yamamura & Yoshiro Tsutsui, 2020. "The Impact of Postponing 2020 Tokyo Olympics on the Happiness of O-MO-TE-NA-SHI Workers in Tourism: A Consequence of COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-16, October.
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    17. Lee, Sun Youn & Ito, Takahiro & Kubota, Kohei & Ohtake, Fumio, 2021. "Reciprocal and prosocial tendencies cultivated by childhood school experiences: School uniforms and the related economic and political factors in Japan," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    18. Eiji Yamamura & Yoshiro Tsustsui, 2021. "School closures and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 34(4), pages 1261-1298, October.
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