Preventing COVID-19 Spread at Home of Thai University Students through appropriate Psycho-Behavioral Model

Abstract

The core focus in this study were predictors from three models, namely, Knowledge-Attitude-Practice model (KAP), Theory of Planned Behavior model (TPB), and Psycho-Moral Strength model (PMS) on health preventive behavior concerning COVID-19 in family context of undergraduate students, which also formed the research   objectives of the study. The purpose of this experimental, quantitative study was to investigate important antecedent variables from these three psychological models. The sample of the study comprised 672 undergraduate students. The research design was non-experimental where multiple regression methods were used to derive statistical results. The findings showed that PMS model accounted for more variance of health preventive behavior than TPB model or KAP model. In addition, hierarchical MRA showed that PMS model with four components could explain the behavior significantly beyond KAP with TPB models together with 6 components.  Furthermore, stepwise regression findings revealed that variables from these three models were found as important predictors which were needed for achievement concerning COVID-19 prevention, locus of control concerning COVID-19 prevention, cognitive attitude component, perceived behavioral control concerning COVID-19 prevention, and behavioral intention concerning COVID-19 prevention with 36.50% in total sample. At-risk group of this behavior were male students with high GPA. This study recommends integrating predictors from the three models for future research and interventions.  Model integration should also be encouraged to heighten the precision of predictions of important behaviors required for disease prevention and pro-social behaviors.