Promoting preventive behaviors against influenza: Comparison between developing and developed countries

Abstract

Applying the health belief model, this study examined young adults' intention to adopt preventive behaviors against influenza infection in developing countries (Thailand and Cambodia) and developed countries (the USA and Singapore). Self-efficacy was the only variable significantly related to behavioral intention in the developing countries. In contrast, perceived threat, expected benefits, and media attention were significant predictors in the developed countries. Trust in information sources also had a consistent impact across the two samples. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Keywords:

• self-efficacy
• cues to action
• trust
• influenza
• protective behavior

Notes

1. Descriptive statistics from the developing countries are noted as sample 1 and those from the developed countries are noted as sample 2.

2. With regard to religion, the prevalent faiths are Christianity (75%) in the USA (Pew Research, 2008), Buddhism (33%) and Christianity (18%) in Singapore (Singapore Department of Statistics, 2010), Buddhism (95%) in Thailand and Buddhism (96%) in Cambodia (Central Intelligence Agency, 2014). Religious guidance was included as a demographic control variable as the teachings of the prevalent faiths in the four countries may have a bearing on people's responses to a health threat. For example, studies in the USA have shown that religious guidance has motivated people to use complementary medicine and to seek help from a doctor (Dessio et al., 2004), and encouraged women to adopt cancer preventive measures (Benjamins, 2006). Mansfield, Mitchell, and King (2002) found that 80% of respondents in southeastern USA believe that God acts through doctors to cure illness. Buddhists tend to believe that a cure for illness can be obtained by thinking and acting correctly or using herbs (Alberta Health Services, 2009). Among the limited number of studies on Buddhism and health care, one study has found that Buddhists tend to seek out traditional remedies before seeking professional medical help (Kwok & Sullivan, 2007). Therefore, religious guidance may play a part in shaping health preventive behaviors and it is worthwhile to examine religious guidance as a demographic control variable in our study.