Government Communication and Behavioral Change amidst COVID-19: Role of Awareness and Fear & Panic
Government Communication and Behavioral Change amidst COVID-19: Role of Awareness and Fear & Panic
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Date
0202-12-22
Authors
Dogbe, Courage Simon Kofi
Pomegbe, Wisdom Wise Kwabla
Bamfo, Bylon Abeeku
Hornuvo, Lawrence Kwabena
Kwofie, Gabriel Sakyi
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Open Peer Review on Qeios
Abstract
The study sought to assess the effect of government communication on the behavioral change of citizens amidst the
COVID-19 pandemic, and the mediating role of awareness in this relationship. The moderating role of fear & panic in
the relationship between awareness and behavioral change was also ascertained. The study was based on 304
residents in Ghana. Descriptive analysis was first conducted using SPPS software (v.23). After which Structural
Equation Modelling (SEM) was run to estimate the path coefficients, using Amos software (v.23). It was concluded that,
government communication had a significant positive effect on behavioral change. Further, government communication
had a significant positive effect on COVID-19 awareness, while awareness subsequently had a significant positive
effect on behavioral change among the citizens. Awareness was found to partially mediate the relationship between
government communication and behavioral change. Finally, it was concluded that, although fear & panic had a direct
positive effect on behavioral change among citizens, it negatively moderated the relationship between awareness and
behavioral change.
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Citation
Dogbe, C. S. K., Pomegbe, W. W. K., Bamfo, B. A., Hornuvo, L. K., & Kwofie, G. S. (2022). Government Communication and Behavioral Change amidst COVID-19: Role of Awareness and Fear & Panic. Qeios.