Abstract - Isabel Estrela Rego, Portugal

University of the Azores

Ponta Delgada, São Miguel island, The Azores, Portugal

Youth: risk perception and protection behaviors

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused sudden and considerable changes in life in society and in particular in the lives of young people. This presentation will focus on a study carried out in the Azores and Madeira archipelagos, in the initial phase of the confinement. It aimed to understand the risk perception and protection behaviors adopted by young people, as well as to assess their feelings, concern, degree of satisfaction with policies, and trust in national and regional authorities and sources of information about the new coronavirus and Covid-19. Quantitative survey data (n=694) collected by an online questionnaire were statistically analyzed using various non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square independence test). The youngsters, from 18 to 34 years old, show a moderate perception of risk and a very high level of reported self-protection behavior, with the adoption of behaviors such as washing hands and social distancing. The sources of information most cited are official public posters and the majority of respondents are satisfied with the measures taken by the regional and national authorities against Covid-19. Young people with a disease (respiratory disease, heart disease, diabetes, or other) show higher levels of fear of being infected than those who do not suffer from any disease. Older participants (25-34 years old) are more afraid of being infected, are more careful in their self-protection behaviors (wearing a mask, social distance), and rely more on sources to inform them about the new coronavirus, compared to younger participants (16-24 years). Results and implications are discussed considering theoretical approaches from developmental psychology and risk psychology

Keywords: COVID-19; Risk perception; Protection Behavior; Youth