Health Behavior Education, e-research and a (H1N1) Influenza (Swine Flu): Bridging the Gap between Intentions and Health Behavior Change

Benicio Gutiérrez-Doña; Britta Renner; Tabea Reuter; Helge Giese; David Schubring

doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.05.565

Health Behavior Education, e-research and a (H1N1) Influenza (Swine Flu): Bridging the Gap between Intentions and Health Behavior Change

Procedia Soc Behav Sci. 2012:46:2782-2795. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.05.565. Epub 2012 Sep 1.

Authors

Benicio Gutiérrez-Doña¹, Britta Renner², Tabea Reuter², Helge Giese², David Schubring²

Affiliations

¹ Universidad Estatal a Distancia, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, P.O. Box 474-2050, San José, Costa Rica.
² University of Konstanz, Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 47, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany.

Abstract

This study examined relations between risk perception/self-efficacy and handwashing intentions/behaviors during the A (H1N1) pandemic influenza. Data were collected from a longitudinal sample of Costa Ricans (NT1/T2 = 449/97). Results revealed that males and females presented a different social cognitive pattern in reaction to A (H1N1) pandemic. In females, the effects of risk perception/self-efficacy on handwashing behaviors were fully mediated by handwashing intentions. In males, self-efficacy influenced both directly and indirectly on handwashing behaviors, and risk perceptions showed no significant effect on handwashing behaviors. These results suggest that gender oriented protocols should be adopted by public health authorities in order to educate males and females in preventing both A (H1N1) and seasonal influenza.

Keywords: A (H1N1) influenza; HAPA-model; Health behavior education; e-research.