A longitudinal perspective on perceived vulnerability to disease during the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium

During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, individuals relied heavily on media sources to stay informed about the disease and public health measures. However, differences exist in the type and frequency of news media consumption, which can be linked to their perceived vulnerability to disease. In this longitudinal study, 1000 Flemish (Belgium) individuals were followed from March 2020 until September 2020, focussing on the evolution in perceived vulnerability to disease (i.e. perceived infectability and germ aversion). Media consumption significantly impacts perceived germ aversion; heavy consumers of commercial media reported greater germ aversion than light consumers of these media. The evolution of germ aversion among individuals from March to August depends on their gender, living environment, age and possibility to work from home. Furthermore, the evolution of perceived infectability depends on the age and living environment of the respondent. These findings may interest policy makers and media professionals to anticipate how anxieties regarding contracting an infectious disease evolve over time and how individual characteristics affect this evolution.

Automated summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals relied on media sources for information, however there were differences in the type and frequency of news consumed, which were linked to their perceived vulnerability to disease. A longitudinal study in Belgium followed 1000 individuals from March to September 2020 and found that media consumption significantly impacts perceived germ aversion, with heavy consumers of commercial media reporting greater germ aversion than light consumers. The evolution of germ aversion and perceived infectability depended on factors such as gender, living environment, age, and the ability to work from home.