Public perception of risk and coping response to COVID-19 in China: The moderating role of negative emotion

Abstract

This study investigated the moderating role of negative emotion on risk perception and risk response during the COVID-19 pandemic. We administered a survey to 1 452 participants from six provinces in China (female = 72. 4%; mean age = 33. 5 years; SD = 13. 72 years; age range = 17 to 69 years). The participants completed the COVID-19-related Risk Perception Scale (CRPS), the Negative Affect Scale (NAS), and the Coping Response to COVID-19 Scale (CRCS). COVID-19-related risk perception (CRP) and negative emotions primarily predicted two categories of coping behaviour (positive-response behaviour and risk-taking behaviour). High COVID-19-related risk perception scores reinforced positive-response behaviour and weakened risk-taking behaviour. High negative emotion scores accentuated risk perception and risk-taking behaviour, whereas lower negative emotion scores decreased risk-taking behaviour. Negative emotion significantly moderated both positive-response behaviour and risk-taking behaviour in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy makers must consider the role of negative emotion in shaping public coping responses in disaster situations.

Keywords:

• coping response
• COVID-19
• negative emotion
• risk perception

Acknowledgments

This study was supported under the general topic of education by the National Social Science Foundation in 2018 (BMA180041).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from Yongtao Gan (ganyt@foxmail. com), upon reasonable request.