Abstract
In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, increasing the uptake of proactive health behaviours among Japanese youth has proven problematic. Government officials and health experts have been exasperated at their inability to communicate with youth to the extent that vaccination incentives have been offered through reward points and coupons. SARS-CoV-2 provides nations with a threat-referent through which governments can appeal to a shared identity to motivate citizens to think (attitude) and act (behaviour) in the national interest. It has been reported that public-spirited attitudes and behaviours are more likely with frequent communication of what is best for the collective, a strong in-group identity and the stigmatization of dissent or noncompliance. SARS-CoV-2 challenges the vitality, strength, cohesion, and collective welfare of the national in-group. Therefore, individuals with more pronounced affinity attachments potentially think (attitude) and act (behaviour) in ways that aim to restore the vitality, strength, cohesion, and collective welfare of the national in-group (e.g., though social distancing, hygiene, policy support, vaccination uptake, increased risk perception and caution to misinformation). This study reports on data drawn from 506 students at four Japanese universities and details an investigation into the role of in-group affinity attachments (national identity) in predicting SARS-CoV-2 attitudes and behaviours among Japanese youth. The tested theoretical SEM model accounted for 20% of the observed variance in susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 misinformation and 14% of the variance in SARS-CoV-2 vaccination hesitancy. Implications are discussed in relation to the promotion of effective health communication.
Presenters
Damian RiversProfessor, School of Systems Information Science, Future University Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan Chisato Nonaka
Associate Professor, International Student Center, Kyushu University, Japan Nathanael Rudolph
Associate Professor of Sociolinguistics and Language Education, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kindai University (近畿大学), Osaka, Japan Giancarla Unser Schutz
Associate Professor, Faculty of Psychology, Rissho University, Tokyo, Japan
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Health Promotion and Education
KEYWORDS
Health, Identity, Japan, Pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, Youth
