Understanding face mask use to prevent coronavirus and other illnesses: Development of a multidimensional face mask perceptions scale

Face masks are an avenue to curb the spread of coronavirus, but few people in Western societies wear face masks. Social scientists have rarely studied face mask wearing, leaving little guidance for methods to encourage these behaviours. In the current article, we provide an approach to address this...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British Journal of Health Psychology 2020-11, Vol.25 (4), p.912-924
Main Author: Howard, Matt C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brief‐Report Covid‐19
CFA
Confirmatory factor analysis
Coronavirus
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID‐19: Health Psychology Theory and Research
EFA
Exploratory factor analysis
face mask stigmas
face mask wearing behaviors
face masks
Female
health behaviors
Humans
Male
Masks
Perceptions
Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology
preventative behaviors
psychometrics
Qualitative research
scale development
validity
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Summary:Face masks are an avenue to curb the spread of coronavirus, but few people in Western societies wear face masks. Social scientists have rarely studied face mask wearing, leaving little guidance for methods to encourage these behaviours. In the current article, we provide an approach to address this issue by developing the 32‐item and 8‐dimension Face Mask Perceptions Scale (FMPS). We begin by developing an over‐representative item list in a qualitative study, wherein participants’ responses are used to develop items to ensure content relevance. This item list is then reduced via exploratory factor analysis in a second study, and the eight dimensions of the scale are supported. We also support the validity of the FMPS, as the scale significantly relates to both face mask wearing and health perceptions. We lastly confirm the factor structure of the FMPS in a third study via confirmatory factor analysis. From these efforts, we identify an avenue that social scientists can aid in preventing coronavirus and illness more broadly – by studying face mask perceptions and behaviours.
ISSN:1359-107X
2044-8287
DOI:10.1111/bjhp.12453