Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Covid-19 Concerns in the Use of Safety Health Behaviors

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati odnos između netolerancije na neizvjesnost, briga vezanih uz COVID-19 te zaštitnih ponašanja vezanih uz COVID-19. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 386 osoba, od čega 268 žena te 118 muškaraca. Prosječna dob ispitanika bila je 48.80 godina, pri čemu je raspon dobi bio od 18 do 93 godine. Principom papir-olovka prikupljeni su podaci od 105 ispitanika, dok je 281 ispitanik istraživanju pristupio online putem Google obrasca. Za potrebe istraživanja korištena je skala Briga vezanih uz COVID-19 (CAS), Upitnik ponašanja vezanih uz COVID-19 (CSBC), Upitnik netolerancije na neizvjesnost – skraćena verzija (IUS-12) te upitnik sociodemografskih podataka. Dobiveni rezultati pokazuju pozitivnu povezanost netolerancije na neizvjesnost, briga vezanih uz COVID-19 te sigurnosnih ponašanja vezanih uz COVID-19. Ponašanja vezana uz COVID-19 pozitivno su povezana s dobi, cijepljenjem, oboljenjem od kronične bolesti, stanovanjem sa starijima od 65 godina, dok su negativno povezana sa stanovanjem s maloljetnom djecom te stupnjem obrazovanja. Rezultati pokazuju kako žene, odnosno ispitanici s visokom stručnom spremom, imaju značajno višu netoleranciju na neizvjesnost nego muškarci, odnosno ispitanici sa srednjom školom. Nadalje, rezultati ukazuju na više razine briga i zaštitnih ponašanja vezanih uz COVID-19 kod starijih, kod cijepljenih te onih koji boluju od kroničnih bolesti. Nadalje, dob te brige vezane uz COVID-19 pokazali su se značajnim prediktorima ponašanja vezanih uz COVID-19 pri čemu je objašnjeno ukupno 41% varijance ponašanja vezanih uz COVID-19. Uz to, brige vezane uz COVID-19 imaju medijacijsku ulogu u odnosu između netolerancije na neizvjesnost i ponašanja vezanih uz COVID-19. Rezultati dobiveni ovim istraživanjem impliciraju kako na upotrebu sigurnosnih ponašanja uvelike utječu različite brige vezane uz COVID-19 čime bi se trebalo voditi u kampanjama za promoviranje zaštitnih ponašanja.The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between intolerance of uncertainty, COVID-19 concerns and safety behaviours. The study involved 386 participants, 268 woman and 118 man. Mean of participants age was 48.80 years, ranging from 18 to 93 years. Data was colected from 105 participants in the paper-pencil form and from 281 participant online using Google Forms. The COVID-19 Safety Behaviour Checklist (CSBC), The COVID-19 Anxiety Scale (CAS), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale – short form (IUS 12) and sociodemographic questionnaire were used in the study. The results showed positive correlation between intolerance of uncertainty, COVID-19 concerns and safety behaviours. COVID-19 safety behaviours were positively correlated with age, vaccination, having a chronic condition, living with people older than 65 years of age, while negatively correlated with living with underage children and level of education. The results showed that women and those with university degree had significantly higher intolerance of uncertainty than man and participants with high school. Furthermore, results showed that older participants, vaccinated participants and those with a chronic condition have more COVID-19 concerns and display more safety behaviours than younger participants, unvaccinated participants and those who do not suffer from chronic condition. It has been found that age and COVID-19 concerns were significant predictors of COVID-19 safety behaviours explaining 41% of total variance of COVID-19 safety behaviours. Mediation analysis showed complete mediation of concerns about COVID-19 in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and COVID-19 behaviours. The results imply that use of COVID-19 safety behaviours greatly depends upon different COVID-19 concerns which should be taken into account when conducting public campaigns for promotion of safety behaviours