The Emergence of Risk Communication Networks and the Development of Citizen Health-Related Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Selection and Contagion Processes

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jun 10;17(11):4148. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17114148.

Abstract

Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, a variety of public health strategies have been implemented by governments worldwide. However, the fact that strict government mandates focus on physical distancing does not mean that social connectedness for voluntary risk communication among citizens should be sacrificed. Furthermore, we lack an understanding of citizens' behaviors regarding the voluntary adoption of public health measures and the control of mental wellbeing in the age of physical distancing. Key variables in the response to the global pandemic are the emergence of risk deliberation networks, voluntary compliance with government guidelines, and the restoration of citizens' subjective health. However, little is known about how citizens' health-related behaviors coevolve with social connections for sharing information and discussing urgent pandemic issues. The findings show that selection and social influence mechanisms coexist by affecting each citizen's health-related behaviors and community-led risk discourses in the face of the urgent health crisis.

Keywords: COVID-19; citizen behaviors; coevolution; health resilience; risk communication networks; stochastic actor-oriented model; voluntary public health measures.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19
  • Communication
  • Community Participation
  • Computer Communication Networks / trends*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / psychology
  • Health Behavior
  • Humans
  • Information Seeking Behavior
  • Information Systems / trends*
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / psychology
  • Public Health