Impact of Digital Media Usage on Preventive Behavior among Young Adults

Most countries have endorsed preventive behavioral guidelines or SOPs to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus like using facemasks and maintaining physical distancing. Nevertheless, there are studies indicating that young adults least adhere to such guidelines which pose a public health concern....

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Main Authors: Freeman, Karen Sabina, Chan, Pee Ven, Revathi, Sagadavan
Format: Article
Language:English
English
Published: INTI International University 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1599/
http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1599/1/ij2022_13r.pdf
http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1599/2/150
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author Freeman, Karen Sabina
Chan, Pee Ven
Revathi, Sagadavan
author_facet Freeman, Karen Sabina
Chan, Pee Ven
Revathi, Sagadavan
author_sort Freeman, Karen Sabina
building INTI Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Most countries have endorsed preventive behavioral guidelines or SOPs to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus like using facemasks and maintaining physical distancing. Nevertheless, there are studies indicating that young adults least adhere to such guidelines which pose a public health concern. This study sought to establish the top digital media used by young adults in Malaysia, the reasons for those choices, and to assess the relationship between digital media usage and preventive behaviors. Results from an online survey (N=389) revealed that WhatsApp is most consumed by young adults and the main reason for accessing digital media is to get immediate/fast, up-to-date news and information. In addition, results revealed that TikTok has the highest mean of preventive behavior among young adults. Findings from this study establish that users consume specific digital media for discrete reasons. Results also reveal that the top most preventive behavior recorded by TikTok users is wearing face masks. These have implications for relevant policy makers to prepare for future contagious outbreaks.
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spelling intimal-15992025-07-23T08:55:33Z http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1599/ Impact of Digital Media Usage on Preventive Behavior among Young Adults Freeman, Karen Sabina Chan, Pee Ven Revathi, Sagadavan H Social Sciences (General) HE Transportation and Communications HT Communities. Classes. Races Most countries have endorsed preventive behavioral guidelines or SOPs to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus like using facemasks and maintaining physical distancing. Nevertheless, there are studies indicating that young adults least adhere to such guidelines which pose a public health concern. This study sought to establish the top digital media used by young adults in Malaysia, the reasons for those choices, and to assess the relationship between digital media usage and preventive behaviors. Results from an online survey (N=389) revealed that WhatsApp is most consumed by young adults and the main reason for accessing digital media is to get immediate/fast, up-to-date news and information. In addition, results revealed that TikTok has the highest mean of preventive behavior among young adults. Findings from this study establish that users consume specific digital media for discrete reasons. Results also reveal that the top most preventive behavior recorded by TikTok users is wearing face masks. These have implications for relevant policy makers to prepare for future contagious outbreaks. INTI International University 2022-03 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_4 http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1599/1/ij2022_13r.pdf text en cc_by_4 http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1599/2/150 Freeman, Karen Sabina and Chan, Pee Ven and Revathi, Sagadavan (2022) Impact of Digital Media Usage on Preventive Behavior among Young Adults. INTI JOURNAL, 2022 (13). pp. 1-8. ISSN e2600-7320 https://intijournal.intimal.edu.my/intijournal.htm
spellingShingle H Social Sciences (General)
HE Transportation and Communications
HT Communities. Classes. Races
Freeman, Karen Sabina
Chan, Pee Ven
Revathi, Sagadavan
Impact of Digital Media Usage on Preventive Behavior among Young Adults
title Impact of Digital Media Usage on Preventive Behavior among Young Adults
title_full Impact of Digital Media Usage on Preventive Behavior among Young Adults
title_fullStr Impact of Digital Media Usage on Preventive Behavior among Young Adults
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Digital Media Usage on Preventive Behavior among Young Adults
title_short Impact of Digital Media Usage on Preventive Behavior among Young Adults
title_sort impact of digital media usage on preventive behavior among young adults
topic H Social Sciences (General)
HE Transportation and Communications
HT Communities. Classes. Races
url http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1599/
http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1599/
http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1599/1/ij2022_13r.pdf
http://eprints.intimal.edu.my/1599/2/150