What the study found
The study found that perceived threat in COVID-19 news was associated with more fear, stronger compliance with preventive measures, and greater health discrimination. It also found that perceived efficacy, meaning the sense that recommended actions can work, changed how fear related to these outcomes.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that balanced health communication in media, with both threat and efficacy information, is crucial for reducing health discrimination and maintaining public motivation for preventive behaviors. The study suggests that news messages should not emphasize threat alone.
What the researchers tested
The researchers collected data from 598 participants in China during COVID-19 prevention and control. They used the Extended Parallel Process Model, a framework for studying how people respond to threatening messages, to examine combinations of perceived threat and perceived efficacy in news and their links to fear, preventive compliance, and health discrimination.
What worked and what didn't
Perceived threat showed significant associations with increased fear, enhanced compliance with preventive measures, and heightened health discrimination. Perceived efficacy had a significant moderating effect: when efficacy was high, fear was less likely to promote health discrimination and more likely to encourage preventive measures.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe detailed limitations beyond the study setting and sample. The findings are based on 598 participants in China and on news during COVID-19 prevention and control, so the available summary does not say how far the results extend beyond that context.
Key points
- Perceived threat in COVID-19 news was linked to more fear.
- Perceived threat was also linked to greater compliance with preventive measures.
- Perceived threat was linked to more health discrimination.
- Perceived efficacy moderated the effect of fear on both discrimination and preventive behavior.
- The authors say balanced communication with both threat and efficacy is important.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- COVID-19 threat and efficacy shaped fear, compliance, and discrimination
- Authors:
- Li Ma, Gege Fang, Zhengxin Liu
- Institutions:
- Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Central South University, Tsinghua University
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-02
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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