Do we really have to talk about that? avoiding COVID-19 topics with close contacts

Tengku Mohd Azzman, Tengku Siti Aisha and A. Manaf, Aini Maznina and Syed Zainuddin, Sharifah Sofiah (2024) Do we really have to talk about that? avoiding COVID-19 topics with close contacts. Intellectual Discourse, 32 (1). pp. 291-317. ISSN 0128-4878 E-ISSN 2289-5639

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Abstract

As COVID-19 spread globally in 2020, it culminated in distress, anxiety, and uncertainty in dealing with a global health pandemic. Paramount during this period was the dissemination of accurate and updated information about COVID-19, as a means to reduce negative emotions. Close contacts also play a vital role; in disseminating information, they must ensure that they disclose their health status, to avoid infections from spreading. However, individuals may be reluctant to seek information from close contacts, due to many reasons. Accordingly, this study seeks to examine information avoidance on COVID-19 with close contacts among young adults from the perspective of the Theory of Motivated Information Management (TMIM). Specifically, we explored factors influencing COVID-19 information avoidance, including anxiety discrepancy, outcome expectancy and close contact’s target efficacy among young adults. Through a cross-sectional survey distributed online in November 2020, we targeted undergraduate students in Klang Valley, Malaysia (N = 483). Overall, the study found support for TMIM. Only two hypotheses were not supported; anxiety did not influence outcome expectancy or target efficacy. Target efficacy also mediated the relationship between outcome expectancy and information avoidance. The repercussions of these findings on TMIM, as well as other factors that may influence health information management will be deliberated.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Close contacts, COVID-19, health communication, information avoidance, theory of motivated information management
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) > H61.8 Communication of information K Law > KBP Islamic Law > KBP1 Islamic law.Shariah.Fiqh > KBP490 Furūʻ al-fiqh. Substantive law. Branches of law. > KBP3075 Public health P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics > P87 Communication. Mass media
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Communication Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr Tengku Siti Aisha Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen
Date Deposited:	02 Jul 2024 11:28
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2024 11:28
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/112874

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