IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i19p6964-d418051.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Knowledge Assessment of COVID-19 Symptoms: Gender Differences and Communication Routes for the Generation Z Cohort

Author

Listed:
  • Irene (Eirini) Kamenidou

    (Department of Management Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, Kavala Campus, 654 04 Agios Loukas Kavala, Greece)

  • Aikaterini Stavrianea

    (Department of Communication and Media Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 105 62 Athens, Greece)

  • Spyridon Mamalis

    (Department of Management Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, Kavala Campus, 654 04 Agios Loukas Kavala, Greece)

  • Ifigeneia Mylona

    (Department of Management Science and Technology, International Hellenic University, Kavala Campus, 654 04 Agios Loukas Kavala, Greece)

Abstract

This paper explores the generation Z (Gen Z) cohort’s self-assessed knowledge regarding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms as well as their interest in acquiring information and learning more about the transmission and spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2 virus) and the COVID-19 symptoms. Additionally, it investigates gender differences in self-assessed knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms. Field research employing a nonprobability sampling method with an online questionnaire resulted in collecting 762 valid questionnaires. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, factor and reliability analysis, and the independent sample t -test. Results reveal that overall symptom knowledge was assessed higher than the self-assessed knowledge of the 13 specific symptoms. No gender differences were detected regarding self-assessed knowledge of the following COVID-19 symptoms: cough, dyspnea, anorexia, productive cough with expectoration (phlegm), headache, and diarrhea. On the other hand, for self-assessed overall knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, as well as self-assessed knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms related to fever and fatigue, myalgia (muscle pain), pharyngodynia, nausea–vomitus, hemoptysis, and abdominal pain, the t -tests conducted showed that there are statistical differences in knowledge assessment between male and female subjects. Based on the outcomes, the paper provides marketing communication practices targeting this young generation cohort to raise awareness so that Gen Z’ers may react effectively if these symptoms are observed and, thus, request medical assistance.

Suggested Citation

  • Irene (Eirini) Kamenidou & Aikaterini Stavrianea & Spyridon Mamalis & Ifigeneia Mylona, 2020. "Knowledge Assessment of COVID-19 Symptoms: Gender Differences and Communication Routes for the Generation Z Cohort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:6964-:d:418051
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/19/6964/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/19/6964/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Gilles Laurent & Raphaelle Lambert-Pandraud & Eric Lapersonne, 2005. "Repeat Purchasing of New Automobiles by Older Consumers: Empirical Evidence and Interpretations," Post-Print hal-00458431, HAL.
    3. Manuel Eisner, 2002. "Crime, Problem Drinking, and Drug Use: Patterns of Problem Behavior in Cross-National Perspective," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 580(1), pages 201-225, March.
    4. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    5. Yoon, Carolyn, 1997. "Age Differences in Consumers' Processing Strategies: An Investigation of Moderating Influences," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 24(3), pages 329-342, December.
    6. Xiaoru Xie & Liman Huang & Jun (Justin) Li & Hong Zhu, 2020. "Generational Differences in Perceptions of Food Health/Risk and Attitudes toward Organic Food and Game Meat: The Case of the COVID-19 Crisis in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Kaplan, Andreas M., 2012. "If you love something, let it go mobile: Mobile marketing and mobile social media 4x4," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 55(2), pages 129-139.
    8. Irene C. Kamenidou & Spyridon A. Mamalis & Stavros Pavlidis & Evangelia-Zoi G. Bara, 2019. "Segmenting the Generation Z Cohort University Students Based on Sustainable Food Consumption Behavior: A Preliminary Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-22, February.
    9. Irene (Eirini) Kamenidou & Aikaterini Stavrianea & Evangelia-Zoi Bara, 2020. "Generational Differences toward Organic Food Behavior: Insights from Five Generational Cohorts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-25, March.
    10. Julio Torales & Marcelo O’Higgins & João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia & Antonio Ventriglio, 2020. "The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(4), pages 317-320, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ankica Kosic & Tamara Džamonja Ignjatović & Nebojša Petrović, 2021. "A Cross-Cultural Study of Distress during COVID-19 Pandemic: Some Protective and Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Alessandro Germani & Livia Buratta & Elisa Delvecchio & Claudia Mazzeschi, 2020. "Emerging Adults and COVID-19: The Role of Individualism-Collectivism on Perceived Risks and Psychological Maladjustment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Edmond Pui Hang Choi & Bryant Pui Hung Hui & Eric Yuk Fai Wan & Jojo Yan Yan Kwok & Tiffany Hei Lam Tam & Chanchan Wu, 2021. "COVID-19 and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Community-Based Online Survey in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-12, March.
    4. Dana Alonzo & Marciana Popescu, 2022. "A qualitative examination of the mental health impact of Covid-19 in marginalized communities in Guatemala: The Covid Care Calls survey," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 68(7), pages 1435-1444, November.
    5. Martin Sanchez-Gomez & Gabriele Giorgi & Georgia Libera Finstad & Flavio Urbini & Giulia Foti & Nicola Mucci & Salvatore Zaffina & José M. León-Perez, 2021. "COVID-19 Pandemic as a Traumatic Event and Its Associations with Fear and Mental Health: A Cognitive-Activation Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.
    6. Daniela Morniroli & Alessandra Consales & Lorenzo Colombo & Elena Nicoletta Bezze & Lidia Zanotta & Laura Plevani & Monica Fumagalli & Fabio Mosca & Maria Lorella Giannì, 2021. "Exploring the Impact of Restricted Partners’ Visiting Policies on Non-Infected Mothers’ Mental Health and Breastfeeding Rates during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-11, June.
    7. Ewa Kupcewicz & Marzena Mikla & Helena Kadučáková & Elżbieta Grochans & Maria Dolores Roldán Valcarcel & Anna Maria Cybulska, 2022. "Correlation between Positive Orientation and Control of Anger, Anxiety and Depression in Nursing Students in Poland, Spain and Slovakia during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-18, February.
    8. M. Dolores Merino & Coral Oliver-Hernández & M. Dolores Vallellano & Inmaculada Mateo, 2020. "Is It Possible to Find Something Positive in Being Confined Due to COVID-19? Implications for Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Ilaria Cataldo & Dora Novotny & Alessandro Carollo & Gianluca Esposito, 2023. "Mental Health in the Post-Lockdown Scenario: A Scientometric Investigation of the Main Thematic Trends of Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(13), pages 1-21, July.
    10. Ying Yang & Yanan Xiao & Yulu Liu & Qiong Li & Changshuo Shan & Shulin Chang & Philip H.-S. Jen, 2021. "Mental Health and Psychological Impact on Students with or without Hearing Loss during the Recurrence of the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-28, February.
    11. Zhenhong Yang & Xiaoying Zhao & Lin Zhu & Yishi Xia & Yixin Ma & Jingyan Wu & Xueqian Xiong & Ni Yang & Miao Lu, 2023. "Research on the Healing Potential of Urban Parks from the Perspective of Audio-Visual Integration: A Case Study of Five Urban Parks in Chengdu," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-25, June.
    12. Carolyn Yoon & Gilles Laurent & Helene Fung & Richard Gonzalez & Angela Gutchess & Trey Hedden & Raphaëlle Lambert-Pandraud & Mara Mather & Denise Park & Ellen Peters & Ian Skurnik, 2005. "Cognition, Persuasion and Decision Making in Older Consumers," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 429-441, December.
    13. Juana Inés Gallego-Gómez & María Campillo-Cano & Aurora Carrión-Martínez & Serafín Balanza & María Teresa Rodríguez-González-Moro & Agustín Javier Simonelli-Muñoz & José Miguel Rivera-Caravaca, 2020. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Homebound Nursing Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-12, October.
    14. Hana Sonbol & Hadil M. Alahdal & Rasis A. Alanazi & Khawla Alsamhary & Fuad Ameen, 2021. "COVID-19 Pandemic Causing Depression in Different Sociodemographic Groups in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-11, June.
    15. Samantha Garcia & Suellen Hopfer & Elouise Botes & Samuel Greiff, 2022. "Associations between Coronavirus Crisis Perception, Perceived Economic Risk of Coronavirus, General Self-Efficacy, and Coronavirus Anxiety at the Start of the Pandemic: Differences by Gender and Race," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, March.
    16. Maja Milošević Marković & Milan B. Latas & Srđan Milovanović & Sanja Totić Poznanović & Miloš M. Lazarević & Milica Jakšić Karišik & Jana Đorđević & Zoran Mandinić & Svetlana Jovanović, 2022. "Mental Health and Quality of Life among Dental Students during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-12, October.
    17. Nai-Ying Ko & Wei-Hsin Lu & Yi-Lung Chen & Dian-Jeng Li & Yu-Ping Chang & Chia-Fen Wu & Peng-Wei Wang & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2020. "Changes in Sex Life among People in Taiwan during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Risk Perception, General Anxiety, and Demographic Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-15, August.
    18. Md Altab Hossin & Lie Chen & Md Sajjad Hosain & Isaac Owusu Asante, 2022. "Does COVID-19 Fear Induce Employee Innovation Performance Deficiency? Examining the Mediating Role of Psychological Stress and Moderating Role of Organizational Career Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-22, August.
    19. Eamin Z. Heanoy & Ezra H. Nadler & Dominic Lorrain & Norman R. Brown, 2021. "Exploring People’s Reaction and Perceived Issues of the COVID-19 Pandemic at Its Onset," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-15, October.
    20. Beyhan Ertanir & Wassilis Kassis & Ariana Garrote, 2021. "Longitudinal Changes in Swiss Adolescent’s Mental Health Outcomes from before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:6964-:d:418051. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.