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Perception of and Anxiety About COVID-19 Infection and Risk Behaviors for Spreading Infection: An International Comparison
Akihiro Shiina
Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0158-3941
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at Annals of General Psychiatry.
Background: To control the spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 infection's disease (COVID-19), appropriate precautionary behaviors by the public should be promoted. We have been concerned about the differences among countries regarding the populations' cognitional and behavioral patterns as well as attitudes toward information sources in relation to the anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic because knowing these differences will contribute to our understanding of the patterns of epidemic-related anxiety and behaviors, and it will help optimize future policies for preventing the second wave of the epidemic.
Methods: To examine the differences among countries in their residents' perception, attitude, and precautionary behaviors toward COVID-19, we conducted a cross-sectional study through an online questionnaire survey. Adults who had been registered in Cross Marketing Inc. and living in the UK, Spain, or Japan were subjected. A total of 8,000 people stratified by age were recruited on a first-come, first-served method. Knowledge of and anxiety about COVID-19, the frequency and credibility of several information sources, and the magnitude of each precautionary behavior were examined in the questionnaire on March 27–28, 2020 in Japan and April 17–21 in the UK and Spain.
Results: Compared to Japan, the knowledge and anxiety level and the frequency of precautionary behaviors were higher in the UK and Spain. Participants with infected acquaintances were more concerned about COVID-19. However, participants in the UK rarely wore a medical mask. Participants in the UK and Spain were eager to get information about COVID-19 compared to those in Japan. The participants in Spain tended not to trust official information and to believe specialists' comments instead.
Conclusion: The urgency of the spread of COVID-19, cultural backgrounds, and recent political situations appear to contribute to the differences among countries revealed herein.
Keywords
COVID-19, anxiety, precautionary behaviors, international comparison, questionnaire survey
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
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Posted 21 Sep, 2020
Published
On 18 Feb, 2021
No community comments so far
Review #2 received
Received 14 Nov, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 14 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 11 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 07 Nov, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 15 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 14 Oct, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 10 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 15 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 14 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 14 Sep, 2020
First submitted
On 13 Sep, 2020
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Subject Areas
Psychiatry
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This preprint is under consideration at Annals of General Psychiatry. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Primary research
Perception of and Anxiety About COVID-19 Infection and Risk Behaviors for Spreading Infection: An International Comparison
Akihiro Shiina
Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0158-3941
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 1
Posted 21 Sep, 2020
Published
On 18 Feb, 2021
No community comments so far
Review #2 received
Received 14 Nov, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 14 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 11 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 07 Nov, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 15 Oct, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 14 Oct, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 10 Oct, 2020
Editor assigned
On 15 Sep, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 14 Sep, 2020
Editor invited
On 14 Sep, 2020
First submitted
On 13 Sep, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Psychiatry
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at Annals of General Psychiatry.
Background: To control the spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 infection's disease (COVID-19), appropriate precautionary behaviors by the public should be promoted. We have been concerned about the differences among countries regarding the populations' cognitional and behavioral patterns as well as attitudes toward information sources in relation to the anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic because knowing these differences will contribute to our understanding of the patterns of epidemic-related anxiety and behaviors, and it will help optimize future policies for preventing the second wave of the epidemic.
Methods: To examine the differences among countries in their residents' perception, attitude, and precautionary behaviors toward COVID-19, we conducted a cross-sectional study through an online questionnaire survey. Adults who had been registered in Cross Marketing Inc. and living in the UK, Spain, or Japan were subjected. A total of 8,000 people stratified by age were recruited on a first-come, first-served method. Knowledge of and anxiety about COVID-19, the frequency and credibility of several information sources, and the magnitude of each precautionary behavior were examined in the questionnaire on March 27–28, 2020 in Japan and April 17–21 in the UK and Spain.
Results: Compared to Japan, the knowledge and anxiety level and the frequency of precautionary behaviors were higher in the UK and Spain. Participants with infected acquaintances were more concerned about COVID-19. However, participants in the UK rarely wore a medical mask. Participants in the UK and Spain were eager to get information about COVID-19 compared to those in Japan. The participants in Spain tended not to trust official information and to believe specialists' comments instead.
Conclusion: The urgency of the spread of COVID-19, cultural backgrounds, and recent political situations appear to contribute to the differences among countries revealed herein.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3