Navigating Epidemics: the Interplay of Risk Perception, Information Diversity, and Healthy Eating Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 has reshaped the global landscape, influencing various aspects of daily life, including dietary choices. This study investigates the complex relationship between risk perception, information diversity, and healthy eating behaviors during the COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai, offering valuable insights for public health policies and interventions. Empirical findings reveal that risk attitudes significantly impact individuals’ dietary choices, with high-risk attitudes associated with unhealthy diets. Additionally, the perceived severity of the epidemic’s risk positively influences the adoption of healthy dietary habits, emphasizing the importance of public awareness campaigns. Information diversity plays a pivotal role in shaping individual risk attitudes, heightening anxiety and fear, and highlighting the need for reliable information dissemination. Surprisingly, risk likelihood perception is negatively impacted by information diversity, suggesting the influence of contextual factors. Age emerges as a significant factor, with younger individuals exhibiting heightened anxiety and overestimating risk likelihood. This calls for tailored mental health support for younger populations. The study’s theoretical implications extend our understanding of how individuals respond to epidemic-related information, emphasizing emotional states in dietary decision-making. Policy-wise, the research underscores the necessity of holistic approaches addressing psychological well-being alongside food supply and dietary education. Uniform and reliable information dissemination is paramount in mitigating the negative influences of diverse information sources. This study provides a nuanced perspective on promoting healthy eating behaviors during major infectious disease outbreaks, prioritizing the mental well-being of populations.