Exploring Differences in Crisis Literacy and Efficacy on Behavioral Responses during Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Exploring Differences in Crisis Literacy and Efficacy on Behavioral Responses during Infectious Disease Outbreaks
Abstract: This study examined the effects of literacy and efficacy on individuals’ protective action taking and information seeking during the early phase of infectious disease outbreaks through a nationally representative survey of 1,164 U.S. adults. New measures of disaster literacy and crisis efficacy were tested. Overall, results revealed that crisis efficacy and organizational efficacy drove protective action taking and information seeking intentions, while health literacy did not. Disaster literacy negatively predicted both protective action advice seeking and information seeking. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening public efficacy and improving relationships between health authorities and the public, which is greatly influenced by the public’s confidence in the health authority’s management of the crisis.
Related Research
-
Corporate Attitude: How Humanised Organisations (Can) Respond to Opportunities and Threats in a Volatile World.Yan Jin (panelist). “Corporate Attitude: How Humanised Organisations (Can) Respond to Opportunities and Threats in a Volatile World.” EUPRERA Annual Congress, September 16-19, 2026, Malaga, Spain.
-
Using STOPS to Stop Misinformation: Situational Theory of Problem-Solving as A Framework to Motivate Communicative Actions on Social MediaRita Tang, Yan Jin, and Erich Sommerfeld. “Using STOPS to Stop Misinformation: Situational Theory of Problem-Solving as A Framework to Motivate Communicative Actions on Social Media.” Presentation at AEJMC Conference, […]