Does media affect adherence to COVID-19 quarantine protocols?

• Main Authors: Bautista, Reynaldo A., Jr., Jeong, Luz Suplico, Murad, Noel Sajid I., Guillen, Nelson B., Jr.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2022
• Subjects: Quarantine—Philippines; Quarantine—Press coverage—Philippines; COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- —Philippines; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/11616
• Institution: De La Salle University

The Philippines, which has experienced community quarantine from March 2020 to the present, is one country that has imposed quarantine protocols.. Although the Philippine government imposes penalties on those who do not follow the quarantine protocols, the success of quarantine depends on the individual’s adherence to quarantine protocols. This study examined if media affected adherence to COVID-19 protocols. 334 residents from lloilo, Philippines were surveyed. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework, the results showed a positive relationship between (1) attitude and quarantine adherence, (2) controllability and quarantine adherence, and (3) media and quarantine adherence. This implies that a favorable attitude can result to quarantine adherence. Residents who believe that they have the capability to follow quarantine protocols will follow it. Media positively affects quarantine adherence. Further, media mediated the relationships between attitude and quarantine adherence, self-efficacy and quarantine adherence, and controllability and quarantine adherence. As a mediating variable, media can strengthen the quarantine adherence by favorably influencing attitudes, self-efficacy, and controllability. The relationship between subjective norm and quarantine adherence was not significant. This implies that individuals comply with quarantine protocols on their own volition.