E-ISSN 1658-8223 | ISSN 1658-645X
 

Original Article 


Impact of Social Media on Risk Perception And Preventive Behaviors Toward Covid-19 In Saudi Arabia

Samiha Hamdi Sayed, Ebtesam A. Elsayed, Haya S. Zedan, Afaf Abdalla Mossad.


Abstract
Background and Aims: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an unprecedented pandemic in which social media can play a pivotal role in shaping public risk perception and enhances compliance with preventive behaviors. This study aimed to assess the impact of social media on risk perception and preventive behaviors toward COV- ID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Methods: The study was conducted through a social media web-based survey on the adult population (872 responses). It comprised four parts: Socio-demographic Characteristics and Scales of Social Media Exposure to COVID-19 Risk Information, Perceived Role of Social Media during COVID-19 Pandemic; Risk Perception, and Preventive Behaviors.

Results: A majority of the study respondents fall under the moderate and high category for all scales; preventive behaviors (9.2%, 88.0%) with a mean rank of 4.35 ±0.71; risk perception (25.6%, 68.1%) a mean rank of 3.57 ±0.69; the perceived role of social media (33.5%, 59.3%) with a mean rank of 3.48 ±0.59 and exposure to COVID-19 risk information (30.3%, 48.3%) with a mean rank of 3.31 ±0.9; respectively. Social media exposure to COVID-19 risk information and the perceived role of social media were significant predictors of both COVID-19 risk perception and preventive behaviors.

Conclusions: Social media was the main source of health information about COVID-19 and had a major significant impact on risk perception and preventive behaviors among adults in Saudi Arabia.

Key words: COVID-19, Social media, Risk perception, Preventive behaviors


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Sayed SH, Elsayed EA, Zedan HS, Mossad AA. Impact of Social Media on Risk Perception And Preventive Behaviors Toward Covid-19 In Saudi Arabia. Majmaah J Heal Sci. 2021; 9(4): 41-56. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2021.04.005


Web Style

Sayed SH, Elsayed EA, Zedan HS, Mossad AA. Impact of Social Media on Risk Perception And Preventive Behaviors Toward Covid-19 In Saudi Arabia. https://www.mjhs-mu.org/?mno=40779 [Access: June 27, 2026]. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2021.04.005


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Sayed SH, Elsayed EA, Zedan HS, Mossad AA. Impact of Social Media on Risk Perception And Preventive Behaviors Toward Covid-19 In Saudi Arabia. Majmaah J Heal Sci. 2021; 9(4): 41-56. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2021.04.005



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Sayed SH, Elsayed EA, Zedan HS, Mossad AA. Impact of Social Media on Risk Perception And Preventive Behaviors Toward Covid-19 In Saudi Arabia. Majmaah J Heal Sci. (2021), [cited June 27, 2026]; 9(4): 41-56. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2021.04.005



Harvard Style

Sayed, S. H., Elsayed, . E. A., Zedan, . H. S. & Mossad, . A. A. (2021) Impact of Social Media on Risk Perception And Preventive Behaviors Toward Covid-19 In Saudi Arabia. Majmaah J Heal Sci, 9 (4), 41-56. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2021.04.005



Turabian Style

Sayed, Samiha Hamdi, Ebtesam A. Elsayed, Haya S. Zedan, and Afaf Abdalla Mossad. 2021. Impact of Social Media on Risk Perception And Preventive Behaviors Toward Covid-19 In Saudi Arabia. Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences, 9 (4), 41-56. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2021.04.005



Chicago Style

Sayed, Samiha Hamdi, Ebtesam A. Elsayed, Haya S. Zedan, and Afaf Abdalla Mossad. "Impact of Social Media on Risk Perception And Preventive Behaviors Toward Covid-19 In Saudi Arabia." Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences 9 (2021), 41-56. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2021.04.005



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Sayed, Samiha Hamdi, Ebtesam A. Elsayed, Haya S. Zedan, and Afaf Abdalla Mossad. "Impact of Social Media on Risk Perception And Preventive Behaviors Toward Covid-19 In Saudi Arabia." Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences 9.4 (2021), 41-56. Print. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2021.04.005



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Sayed, S. H., Elsayed, . E. A., Zedan, . H. S. & Mossad, . A. A. (2021) Impact of Social Media on Risk Perception And Preventive Behaviors Toward Covid-19 In Saudi Arabia. Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences, 9 (4), 41-56. doi:10.5455/mjhs.2021.04.005





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