Abstract Background The current COVID-19 outbreak is seriously affecting the lives and health of people across the globe. While gender remains a key determinant of health, attempts to address the gendered dimensions of health face complex challenges. Methods In a cross-sectional study 482 participants (men=237, women=245) completed questionnaires on precautionary behaviour, perceived knowledge about COVID-19 risk factors, emotional reactions toward COVID-19 and perceived susceptibility. We examined gender differences in perceived knowledge about COVID-19 risk factors, healthy behaviours, threat perceptions and emotional responses, as well as the role of gender as a moderating factor. Results Women reported higher levels of precautionary behaviour ( t (475)=3.91, p<0.001) and more negative emotional reactions toward COVID-19 ( t (475)=6.07, p<0.001). No gender differences emerged in perceived susceptibility or knowledge about COVID-19. The multiple regression model is significant and explains 30% of the variance in precautionary behaviour, which was found to be higher among women and older participants, those with higher perceived knowledge about COVID-19 risk factors and those with higher emotional reactions. Gender exhibited a significant moderating role in the relationship between perceived knowledge and precautionary behaviour (B=0.16, SE=0.07, β=0.13, p=0.02, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.30). Conclusion Women exhibited higher levels of precautionary behaviour and emotional responses.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Gender differences, Emotional reactions, Perceived susceptibility, perceived knowledge about COVID-19 risk factors, precautionary behaviour, 【초록키워드】 Risk factors, knowledge, cross-sectional, susceptibility, Gender, risk factor, Health, COVID-19 outbreak, women, questionnaire, emotional, Older, Participants, Reactions, 95% CI, reaction, complex, participant, while, dimension, multiple regression model, responses, Result, examined, globe, healthy, reported, exhibited, explain, affecting, 【제목키워드】 knowledge, susceptibility, Gender, emotional, Reactions,