Knowledge, Risk Perception, Protection Behaviors and Psychological Consequences related to Covid -19 in Adults

Abstract

Purpose: The Perception of risk and Knowledge regarding obtaining the disease can help take protective and precautionary measures but the misinformation can generate terrible mental health consequences so the present research was conducted to find the association between Knowledge, Risk Perception, Protection Behaviors and Psychological Consequences related to Covid-19 in adults. Methodology: A sample of 259 participants (N=259), 107 men and 152 women aged 18 to 60 (M=24.07) years were taken by purposive sampling technique using an Online Google form. A standard Questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization was used to assess variables of Knowledge, Risk perception, and Protection Behaviors (World Health Organization, 2020). DASS-21 (Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995) was used to assess the variable of Psychological Consequences. Results: Self-assessed knowledge and self-adherence to protective behaviors were strongly correlated, according to regression analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. Risk Perception was a significant predictor of Distress. The relationship between risk perception and self-adherence to protection behaviors was positive but not statistically significant. There were significant gender differences between risk perception, Protection behaviors, Depression, anxiety, stress, and Distress. Conclusion: It is crucial to increase public awareness related to coronavirus and integrated prevention services should be provided to the infected individuals to assist them in managing their problems.