Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 5, 2025

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
COVID-19 risk perceptions, self-efficacy, and prevention behaviors among California undergraduate students
Adrienne R Lee1,2, Alex Gonzalez1,3, Jenna M Garcia1
1Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
Objective:
College students play a major role in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the viral agent responsible for COVID-19. We aim to understand risk perceptions, self-efficacy, and adoption of prevention behaviors in this population to inform prevention strategies.
Participants:
Undergraduate students attending a large public university.
Methods:
A convenience sample of students were surveyed (April-June 2020). Participants self-reported risk perceptions, perceived risk of contracting COVID-19, self-efficacy, and prevention behavior engagement.
Results:
A total of 1,449 students were included in the analysis. The majority were women (71.2%) and aged 18-24 (86.6%). Freshmen had the lowest risk and threat perceptions, as did men; men also had lower self-efficacy. Women engaged significantly more in prevention behaviors compared to men.
Conclusions:
Perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 was low, but overall adoption of prevention behaviors was high due to local mandates. Freshmen men were identified as having the greatest need for changing perceptions and behaviors.
More Related Videos
07:32Use of Galvanic Skin Responses, Salivary Biomarkers, and Self-reports to Assess Undergraduate Student Performance During a Laboratory Exam Activity
Published on: February 10, 2016
07:13Swabbing the Urban Environment - A Pipeline for Sampling and Detection of SARS-CoV-2 From Environmental Reservoirs
Published on: April 9, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention I
The health belief model (HBM) attempts to predict health-related behavior in specific belief patterns. According to the HBM, a person's...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques I
Conscientiousness
Conscientious individuals tend to be organized, responsible, and disciplined. They prioritize completing tasks and following structured routines,...
Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results...
Surveys
Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...