{"title":"Unveiling the dynamics of social distancing intentions in India: a comprehensive analysis integrating health belief and planned behavior models","authors":"Anup Kumar","doi":"10.1108/jfm-02-2023-0022","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\n<p>The COVID-19 outbreak reached a critical stage when it became imperative for public health systems to act decisively and design potential behavioral operational strategies aimed at containing the pandemic. Isolation through social distancing played a key role in achieving this objective. This research study examines the factors affecting the intention of individuals toward social distancing in India.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\n<p>A correlation study was conducted on residents from across Indian states (<em>N</em> = 499). Online questionnaires were floated, consisting of health belief model and theory of planned behavior model, with respect to social distancing behavior initially. Finally, structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Findings</h3>\n<p>The results show that perceived susceptibility (PS), facilitating conditions (FC) and subjective norms are the major predictors of attitude toward social distancing, with the effect size of 0.277, 0.132 and 0.551, respectively. The result also confirms that the attitude toward social distancing, perceived usefulness of social distancing and subjective norms significantly predict the Intention of individuals to use social distancing with the effect size of 0.355, 0.197 and 0.385, respectively. The nonsignificant association of PS with social distancing intention (IN) (<em>H1b</em>) is rendering the fact that attitude (AT) mediates the relationship between PS and IN; similarly, the nonsignificant association of FC with IN (<em>H5</em>) renders the fact that AT mediates the relationship between FC and IN.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Practical implications</h3>\n<p>The results of the study are helpful to policymakers to handle operations management of nudges like social distancing.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Originality/value</h3>\n<p>The research is one of its kind that explores the behavioral aspects of handling social nudges through FC.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":46544,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Facilities Management","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Facilities Management","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jfm-02-2023-0022","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MANAGEMENT","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 outbreak reached a critical stage when it became imperative for public health systems to act decisively and design potential behavioral operational strategies aimed at containing the pandemic. Isolation through social distancing played a key role in achieving this objective. This research study examines the factors affecting the intention of individuals toward social distancing in India.
Design/methodology/approach
A correlation study was conducted on residents from across Indian states (N = 499). Online questionnaires were floated, consisting of health belief model and theory of planned behavior model, with respect to social distancing behavior initially. Finally, structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses.
Findings
The results show that perceived susceptibility (PS), facilitating conditions (FC) and subjective norms are the major predictors of attitude toward social distancing, with the effect size of 0.277, 0.132 and 0.551, respectively. The result also confirms that the attitude toward social distancing, perceived usefulness of social distancing and subjective norms significantly predict the Intention of individuals to use social distancing with the effect size of 0.355, 0.197 and 0.385, respectively. The nonsignificant association of PS with social distancing intention (IN) (H1b) is rendering the fact that attitude (AT) mediates the relationship between PS and IN; similarly, the nonsignificant association of FC with IN (H5) renders the fact that AT mediates the relationship between FC and IN.
Practical implications
The results of the study are helpful to policymakers to handle operations management of nudges like social distancing.
Originality/value
The research is one of its kind that explores the behavioral aspects of handling social nudges through FC.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Facilities Management is a strategic level journal for Heads of Facilities and Corporate Real Estate. Guided by its international and expert Editorial Board, Journal of Facilities Management publishes high-quality, authoritative, and detailed analysis, briefings and case studies on how facilities can and do play a vital part in helping deliver corporate strategy. This quarterly publication features contributions from leading practitioners and thinkers in the field of Facilities Management, from some of the leading companies, government institutions, and universities in the world. The journal features a combination of theoretical and practical articles, complemented by a wide range of case studies and regular features, identifying key implications for senior practitioners in Facilities Management.