Contextual and psychological factors of mask-wearing among secondary school students: A cross-sectional survey from Toronto

Abstract

IntroductionAfter the Ontario government withdrew masking regulations, mask-wearing became a personal choice. Many studies have investigated the factors associated with public mask-wearing, but few have explored the knowledge, attitudes, and psychological factors of masking in high school students. Our study aims to fill this gap.MethodsIn February 2023, a cross-sectional survey was distributed online to Grade 9-12 students in a school located in Toronto. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and logistic regression were performed on the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used to evaluate the qualitative responses.ResultsMost of the 62 participants were male with the median age of 16. Approximately half of the respondents reported some frequency of mask-wearing over the past month. Almost all participants claimed to be knowledgeable about COVID-19 modes of transmission and preventative measures. More participants supported voluntary masking in schools rather than mandated masking. Demographic variables, existing COVID-19 knowledge, and perceived medical benefits were not significantly correlated with masking behaviour. Students who supported voluntary masking were ≈22 times more likely to wear a mask compared to those who held negative attitudes. Participants who felt a high level of perceived barriers were ≈30 times less likely to wear a mask. Mask-wearing individuals cited protection and aesthetic reasons, while the opposition raised arguments about the reduced concern of COVID-19 and downsides of masks.ConclusionAdolescent mask-wearing is significantly impacted by pre-existing attitudes towards masks, while perceived barriers strongly discourage students from wearing masks. Future research should investigate how to best promote positive beliefs regarding mask-wearing to youth.