Factors associated with COVID-19 masking behavior: an application of the Health Belief Model
Date
2022-10-18
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Health Education Research
Abstract
Wearing a face mask is effective in minimizing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among unvaccinated individuals and preventing severe illness among the vaccinated. Country, state and local guidelines promote, and at times mandate, mask-wearing despite it being publicly perceived as an individual’s choice. Guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM), structural equation modeling was used to analyze longitudinal data in a sample of US adults aged 18–49 years to identify constructs that contribute to face mask-wearing. Results indicated that perceived COVID-19 severity, perceived masking benefits and self-efficacy were positively associated with masking behavior, and masking barriers were negatively associated with masking behavior. Perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 and cues to action were nonsignificant correlates of masking behavior. These results’ theoretical and practical implications contribute to the literature on the HBM and the COVID-19 pandemic. Future directions and limitations are discussed.
Description
This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Health Education Research following peer review. The version of record Allie White, Erin Maloney, Michele Boehm, Amy Bleakley, Jessica Langbaum, Factors associated with COVID-19 masking behavior: an application of the Health Belief Model, Health Education Research, Volume 37, Issue 6, December 2022, Pages 452–465, https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyac031 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyac031. This article will be embargoed until 10/18/2023.
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Citation
Allie White, Erin Maloney, Michele Boehm, Amy Bleakley, Jessica Langbaum, Factors associated with COVID-19 masking behavior: an application of the Health Belief Model, Health Education Research, Volume 37, Issue 6, December 2022, Pages 452–465, https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyac031