Conversation Breeds Compliance: The Role of Intergenerational Communication in Promoting Preventive Behaviors against COVID-19 among Middle-Aged Parents in China

This study aims to explore and compare the influences of two crucial information channels used by middle-aged parents-media and their adult children-on their health knowledge, emotions and preventive behaviors against COVID-19, based on media exposure and the family communication patterns (FCP) theo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-09, Vol.18 (19), p.10198
Main Authors: Gong, Wanqi, Guo, Qin, Jiang, Crystal L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult children
Aged
Attitudes
Children
China
Communication
Communication channels
Conformity
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Cross-Sectional Studies
Emotions
Exposure
Families & family life
Health behavior
Health Communication
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Hypotheses
Influence
Interpersonal communication
Knowledge
Middle age
Middle Aged
Older parents
Pandemics
Parents
Parents & parenting
Perceptions
Public health
SARS-CoV-2
Social isolation
Social networks
Stress
Surveys and Questionnaires
Verbal communication
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Summary:This study aims to explore and compare the influences of two crucial information channels used by middle-aged parents-media and their adult children-on their health knowledge, emotions and preventive behaviors against COVID-19, based on media exposure and the family communication patterns (FCP) theory. Parents of college students in Guangzhou, China were invited to participate in an online survey between February 10 and 24, 2020. A total of 193 respondents, aged between 40 and 65 years, completed the study questionnaire. Media exposure was a positive predictor of negative emotions, intergenerational discussions, and preventive behaviors among Chinese middle-aged parents. Conversation orientation was a positive predictor of scientific discussions and preventive behaviors, whereas conformity orientation was a negative predictor of knowledge, but a positive predictor of intergenerational discussions and negative emotions. Intergenerational discussions mediated the relationships between media exposure and preventive behaviors, as well as between FCP and preventive behaviors. Health communication efforts require the help of adult children as intergenerational communication serves as an important amplifier in terms of influencing the health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of middle-aged and elderly populations.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph181910198