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Influencing Factors of Understanding COVID-19 Risks and Coping Behaviors among the Elderly Population

Author

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  • Zhonggen Sun

    (School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Bingqing Yang

    (School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

  • Ruilian Zhang

    (Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia)

  • Xin Cheng

    (School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China)

Abstract

It is known that the elderly population has weak immune functioning and is a susceptible and high-risk group with respect to the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. In this study, to understand the influencing factors of COVID-19-related risks and coping behaviors of elderly individuals with respect to COVID-19 and to provide a basis for taking corresponding protective measures, a questionnaire survey was applied to an elderly population. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression analysis were used to explore the influencing factors of the level of understanding of COVID-19 risks among the elderly population. Additionally, the chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the influencing factors of the elderly population’s protective behaviors against COVID-19. This study found: (1) The sex, age, and self-care ability of elderly individuals were significantly correlated with their level of understanding of COVID-19, and that those who were female, were of a younger age, or had better self-care ability had higher levels of understanding; (2) The sex, place of residence, and level of understanding of COVID-19 among the elderly individuals were significantly correlated with their protective behaviors, e.g., those who were women, had high levels of understanding, and lived in cities were more likely to have good behaviors; (3) Elderly individuals’ assessments of COVID-19 information provided by the government were significantly correlated with their protective behaviors—those who had a positive evaluation of relevant information provided by the government were more likely to develop protective behavior. The conclusions of this study show that it is crucial to implement COVID-19 prevention and control measures in the elderly population. Society, communities, and families need to increase their concerns about the health and risk awareness of the elderly individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhonggen Sun & Bingqing Yang & Ruilian Zhang & Xin Cheng, 2020. "Influencing Factors of Understanding COVID-19 Risks and Coping Behaviors among the Elderly Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:16:p:5889-:d:398697
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gregory W. Fischer & M. Granger Morgan & Baruch Fischhoff & Indira Nair & Lester B. Lave, 1991. "What Risks Are People Concerned About," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(2), pages 303-314, June.
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    1. Bandar Alsaif & Najm Eldinn Elsser Elhassan & Ramaiah Itumalla & Kamal Elbassir Ali & Mohamed Ali Alzain, 2021. "Assessing the Level of Awareness of COVID-19 and Prevalence of General Anxiety Disorder among the Hail Community, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-10, June.
    2. Fahad D. Algahtani & Mohamed Ali Alzain & Najoua Haouas & Khadijah Angawi & Bandar Alsaif & Adel Kadri & Mohamed A. Dkhil & Mejdi Snoussi & Rafat Zrieq, 2021. "Coping during COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Community: Religious Attitudes, Practices and Associated Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-14, August.
    3. Alberto Sardella & Vittorio Lenzo & George A. Bonanno & Giorgio Basile & Maria C. Quattropani, 2021. "Expressive Flexibility and Dispositional Optimism Contribute to the Elderly’s Resilience and Health-Related Quality of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Yunjuan Luo & Yang Cheng & Mingxiao Sui, 2021. "The Moderating Effects of Perceived Severity on the Generational Gap in Preventive Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    5. Maria De Jesus & Shalini S. Ramachandra & Zoe Jafflin & Imani Maliti & Aquilah Daughtery & Benjamin Shapiro & William C. Howell & Monica C. Jackson, 2021. "The Environmental and Social Determinants of Health Matter in a Pandemic: Predictors of COVID-19 Case and Death Rates in New York City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Taixiang Duan & Zhonggen Sun & Guoqing Shi, 2021. "Sustained Effects of Government Response on the COVID-19 Infection Rate in China: A Multiple Mediation Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-16, November.
    7. Miki Tanikaga & Jun-ichi Uemura & Fumiko Hori & Tomomi Hamada & Masahiro Tanaka, 2023. "Changes in Community-Dwelling Elderly’s Activity and Participation Affecting Depression during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, February.
    8. Yibin Ao & Hao Zhu & Fanrong Meng & Yan Wang & Gui Ye & Linchuan Yang & Na Dong & Igor Martek, 2020. "The Impact of Social Support on Public Anxiety amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-14, December.
    9. Carmen María Sarabia-Cobo & Aroa Delgado Uria & Marta García Lecue & Eva Izaguirre Palazuelos & César Martínez Ruiz & Ángela Fernández-Rodríguez, 2021. "Predictive Model of Preventive Behaviors against COVID-19 in the Older Adult: The PREASOC-COVID-19 Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, October.
    10. Zhonggen Sun & Xin Cheng & Ruilian Zhang & Bingqing Yang, 2020. "Factors Influencing Rumour Re-Spreading in a Public Health Crisis by the Middle-Aged and Elderly Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-14, September.

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