Application of health belief model for predicting COVID-19 preventive behaviors among adolescents in Isfahan city

Adolescent protective behaviors against the coronavirus have been a major public health concern in recent months. present study was conducted with the aim of predicting these behaviors in adolescents in Isfahan using the health belief model.

The present study was a cross-sectional study that was performed on 797 adolescents in Isfahan. Samples were selected using two-stage cluster sampling method from secondry schools in six education districts of Isfahan. In coordination with the Education Organization in a circular, the questionnaire link was provided to the educational liaisons of selected schools. The instrument used was a researcher-made electronic questionnaire that was provided to the participants through social networks after confirming its validity and reliability. After completion, the data were analyzed in SPSS23 statistical software using Pearson correlation tests. Linear and hierarchical regressions were analyzed.

There was a Positive and significant correlation between adolescents' protective behaviors with self-efficacy (r = 0.62, P <0.001), perceived benefits (r = 0.29, P <0.001) and perceived severity (r = 0.14, P <0.001) and There was a negative and significant correlation between adolescents' protective behaviors with perceived sensitivity (r = -0.11, P <0.001) and perceived barriers (r = -0. 21, P <0.001). Health belief model constructs are significantly able to explain protective behaviors against Covid 19 in adolescents (AdjR2 = 0.42, P <0.001) and self-efficacy construct is the strongest predictor of behavior (B = 0.59, P = <0.001).

Based on the results of the present study, self-efficacy and perceived barriers have been the main determinants of COVID-19 preventive behaviors in adolescents. It can be concluded that the health belief model is a good tool for predicting COVID-19 prevention behaviors in adolescents.