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Ye Z, Yu Y, Liu Y, Zhang C, Huang L. New observation of perceptive mechanism behind the long-lasting change of people's community mobility: evidence from COVID-19 in China. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5165. [PMID: 36997595 PMCID: PMC10060925 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32009-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to investigate how a new and long-lasting threat affects public risk perception and social distancing behavior, which is important for pandemic risk management and recovery of the tertiary industry. We have found that the mechanism that perception decides behavior changes over time. At the beginning of the pandemic, risk directly shapes people's willingness of going out. But under a persistent threat, perception no longer plays the direct role of shape people's willingness. Instead, perception indirectly influences the willingness by shaping people's judgment about the necessity of traveling. Switching from direct to indirect influence, perception's effect is enlarged, which partially prevents people from returning to normal life even if the governmental ban is removed in a zero-COVID community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwen Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Nanjing University (Suzhou) High-Tech Institute, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Yuxin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Nanjing University (Suzhou) High-Tech Institute, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Chaosheng Zhang
- International Network for Environment and Health, School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, University of Galway, Galway, H91 CF50, Ireland
| | - Lei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Xianlin Campus, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Nanjing University (Suzhou) High-Tech Institute, Suzhou, 215123, China.
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Airak S, Sukor NSA, Rahman NA. Travel behaviour changes and risk perception during COVID-19: A case study of Malaysia. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES 2023; 18:100784. [PMID: 36844954 PMCID: PMC9939401 DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2023.100784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted travel behaviours due to the need for movement restrictions. The restrictions adversely affected various aspects of health and the economy. This study aimed to investigate factors affecting trip frequency during the recovery period of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. An online national cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data in conjunction with different movement restriction policies. The questionnaire includes socio-demographics, experience with COVID-19, risk perception of COVID-19, and trip frequency on several activities during the pandemic. Mann Whitney U was conducted to determine whether there were statistically significant differences between the socio-demographic factors for the respondents in the first and second surveys. Results show no significant difference in socio-demographic factors except for the level of education. The results indicate that the respondents from both surveys were comparable. Next, Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to find significant correlations between trip frequencies toward socio-demographics, experience with COVID-19 and risk perception. There was a correlation between the frequency of travel and risk perception for both surveys. Regression analyses were performed based on the findings to investigate trip frequency determinants during the pandemic. Perceived risk, gender, and occupation influenced the trip frequencies for both surveys. By understanding the influence of risk perception on the frequency of travel, the government can identify the appropriate policy during a pandemic or health emergency to avoid impeding normal travel behaviour. Thus, people's mental and psychological well-being are not negatively affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surachai Airak
- School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Nur Sabahiah Abdul Sukor
- School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Noorhazlinda Abd Rahman
- School of Civil Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
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