Exposure to the COVID-19 News on Social Media: Psychological and Self-reported Behavioural Responses Among Iranian Adults

Abstract

Background: Exposure to news on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is inevitable. This study aimed to explore associations between exposure to COVID-19 news on social media and psychological and behavioral consequences among Iranians.Methods: This was a telephone-based survey carried out in April 2020 in Iran. Iranian adults aged 18 and over were randomly selected from the postal codes and using their mobile phones. A self-designed questionnaire was administered to collect data on participants’ characteristics and questions to address their psychological and behavioral responses regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to assess the relationship between anxiety, fear, and behavioral responses and independent variables including exposure to news.Results: In all 1563 adults participated in the study. The mean age of respondents was 39.17±13.5 years. Moderate to high-level anxiety was reported by 55.4% of participants, while fear of being affected by coronavirus was reported by 54.1%. Overall 88% reported that they changed their behaviors to some extent. Exposure to the COVID-19 news on social media was by far the most influencing variable on anxiety (OR= 2.21, 95% CI: 1.62-3.04; P < 0.0001), fear (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.49-2.56; P < 0.0001), and change in health behaviors (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 1.28-3.19; P = 0.003) in the regression model. While independent variables did not show significant associations with anxiety and behavior change, the fear of being infected by the COVID19 was associated with the female gender and some socio-economic characteristics of the participants.Conclusion: Although exposure to the COVID-19 news on social media seemed to be associated with excessive anxiety and fear among people, it also, to some extent, positively has changed people’s health behaviors towards preventive measures.