A mixed methods investigation of how young adults in Virginia received, evaluated, and responded to COVID-19 public health messaging

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dc.contributor.authorCook, Natalie E.en
dc.contributor.authorWenzel, Sophieen
dc.contributor.authorSilverman, Rachel A.en
dc.contributor.authorShort, Danielleen
dc.contributor.authorJiles, Kristina A.en
dc.contributor.authorMarkwalter, Teresaen
dc.contributor.authorFriesen, Mary Annen
dc.coverage.countryUnited Statesen
dc.coverage.stateVirginiaen
dc.date.accessioned2023-01-20T13:50:45Zen
dc.date.available2023-01-20T13:50:45Zen
dc.date.issued2022-09-22en
dc.date.updated2023-01-19T18:23:59Zen
dc.description.abstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate how young adults in Virginia received, evaluated, and responded to messages related to the coronavirus/COVID-19, a major disruptor of our time, and to understand how and when these messages influenced behavior. This was a sequential explanatory mixed methods study, including an online survey (quantitative) and virtual focus groups (qualitative). We surveyed a convenience sample of 3,694 Virginia residents by distributing a link to complete the survey online. Only data from18-24 year old adults (n=207) were included in the analysis for this study. Focus group participants were recruited from the survey participants as well as from a college-level introductory health class. Most (83%) young adult respondents reported national science and health organizations as a trusted source for COVID-19 information and over 50% of respondents reported getting information from state/local health departments (72%), healthcare professionals (71%), and online news sources (51%). Focus group participants emphasized social media as an additional major source of COVID-19 information. Focus group data revealed that young adults struggled with deciphering contradictory messaging, had a mix of logical and emotional reasons for deciding whether to adhere to guidelines, had a desire for consistent, fact-based public health messaging at the national level. The findings from this study underscore the importance of consistent, positive public health messaging in a public health crisis.en
dc.description.versionPublished versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.issue1en
dc.identifier.orcidWenzel, Sophie [0000-0002-6961-3820]en
dc.identifier.orcidJiles, Kristina [0000-0003-4036-9585]en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/113296en
dc.identifier.volume7en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.titleA mixed methods investigation of how young adults in Virginia received, evaluated, and responded to COVID-19 public health messagingen
dc.title.serialVirginia Journal of Public Healthen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.otherArticleen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Techen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Veterinary Medicineen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Veterinary Medicine/Population Health Sciencesen
pubs.organisational-group/Virginia Tech/Faculty of Health Sciencesen

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