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The Impact of Individual Behaviors and Governmental Guidance Measures on Pandemic-Triggered Public Sentiment Based on System Dynamics and Cross-Validation

Author

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  • Hainan Huang

    (School of Economics, Management and Law at the University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China)

  • Weifan Chen

    (Information Sciences and Technology at The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802, USA)

  • Tian Xie

    (School of Economics, Management and Law at the University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China)

  • Yaoyao Wei

    (School of Economics, Management and Law at the University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China)

  • Ziqing Feng

    (School of Economics, Management and Law at the University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China)

  • Weijiong Wu

    (School of Management, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510520, China)

Abstract

Negative online public sentiment generated by government mishandling of pandemics and other disasters can easily trigger widespread panic and distrust, causing great harm. It is important to understand the law of public sentiment dissemination and use it in a timely and appropriate way. Using the big data of online public sentiment during the COVID-19 period, this paper analyzes and establishes a cross-validation based public sentiment system dynamics model which can simulate the evolution processes of public sentiment under the effects of individual behaviors and governmental guidance measures. A concrete case of a violation of relevant regulations during COVID-19 epidemic that sparked public sentiment in China is introduced as a study sample to test the effectiveness of the proposed method. By running the model, the results show that an increase in government responsiveness contributes to the spread of positive social sentiment but also promotes negative sentiment. Positive individual behavior suppresses negative emotions while promoting the spread of positive emotions. Changes in the disaster context (epidemic) have an impact on the spread of sentiment, but the effect is mediocre.

Suggested Citation

  • Hainan Huang & Weifan Chen & Tian Xie & Yaoyao Wei & Ziqing Feng & Weijiong Wu, 2021. "The Impact of Individual Behaviors and Governmental Guidance Measures on Pandemic-Triggered Public Sentiment Based on System Dynamics and Cross-Validation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-25, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4245-:d:537742
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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