Media exposure, threat processing, and mitigation behaviors in Gulf Coast residents facing the co‐occurring threats of COVID‐19 and hurricanes

Abstract

The 2020 hurricane season threatened millions of Americans concurrently grappling with COVID‐19. Processes guiding individual‐level mitigation for these conceptually distinct threats, one novel and chronic (COVID‐19), the other familiar and episodic (hurricanes), are unknown. Theories of health protective behaviors suggest that inputs from external stimuli (e.g., traditional and social media) lead to threat processing, including perceived efficacy (self‐ and response) and perceived threat (susceptibility and severity), guiding mitigation behavior. We surveyed a representative sample of Florida and Texas residents ( N = 1846) between April 14, 2020 and April 27, 2020; many had previous hurricane exposure; all were previously assessed between September 8, 2017 and September 11, 2017. Using preregistered analyses, two generalized structural equation models tested direct and indirect effects of media exposure (traditional media, social media) on self‐reported (1) COVID‐19 mitigation (handwashing, mask‐wearing, social distancing) and (2) hurricane mitigation (preparation behaviors), as mediated through perceived efficacy (self‐ and response) and perceived threat (susceptibility and severity). Self‐efficacy and response efficacy were associated with social distancing ( p = .002), handwashing, mask‐wearing, and hurricane preparation ( p s < 0.001). Perceived susceptibility was positively associated with social distancing ( p = 0.017) and hurricane preparation ( p < 0.001). Perceived severity was positively associated with social distancing ( p < 0.001). Traditional media exhibited indirect effects on COVID‐19 mitigation through increased response efficacy ( p s < 0.05), and to a lesser extent self‐efficacy ( p < 0.05), and on hurricane preparation through increased self‐efficacy and response efficacy and perceived susceptibility ( p s < 0.05). Social media did not exhibit indirect effects on COVID‐19 or hurricane mitigation. Communications targeting efficacy and susceptibility may encourage mitigation behavior; research should explore how social media campaigns can more effectively target threat processing, guiding protective actions.

Finding benefits during collective stress: A study of health behaviors in a longitudinal representative U.S. sample during the COVID-19 era.

“…At W2, COVID-19-related health protective behaviors were assessed on a scale of 1 ( never ) to 5 ( all the time ) and included: (a) wearing a facemask in public and (b) social distancing, a composite of four items (see ). Social distancing items were averaged (see Garfin et al, 2021, 2023). At W3, vaccination intentions and behaviors were assessed with the following items: “Have you gotten the COVID-19 vaccine?” with response options 1 ( yes, voluntarily ), 2 ( yes, but only because I was required to by my employer/school ), 3 ( no, but I plan to ), 4 ( no, and I do not plan to ), and 5 ( no, I am medically unable ).…”

“…At W2, COVID-19-related health protective behaviors were assessed on a scale of 1 (never) to 5 (all the time) and included: (a) wearing a facemask in public and (b) social distancing, a composite of four items (see SF1 in the online supplemental materials). Social distancing items were averaged (see Garfin et al, 2021Garfin et al, , 2023. At W3, vaccination intentions and behaviors were assessed with the following items: "Have you gotten the COVID-19 vaccine?"…”

Emotions, worry, efficacy, and climate change–related sustainability behaviors among a representative sample of Texas and Florida residents

“…In general, perceptions of efficacy are strongly associated with initiating and maintaining adaptive behaviors (Strecher et al 1986). Prior analyses demonstrated that efficacy was associated with preparation for hurricanes (Garfin et al 2023), which are projected to intensify because of climate change (Bloemendaal et al 2022;Emanuel 2020). In the context of climate change behaviors specifically, perceptions of collective efficacy related to the ability to change the system (Roser-Renouf et al 2014) and individual efficacy (the extent to which one can personally mitigate climate change) (Hornsey et al 2021) are important correlates of climate change-related sustainability behaviors.…”