Increasing compliance with public health guidelines among adolescents: Lessons for the future from the US COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose:To explore factors influencing compliance with COVID-19 recommended preventive behaviours focusing on types of information sources about COVID-19, learning about disinfectant use and constructs of the Health Belief Model among adolescents at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.Design:Cross-sectional descriptive design.Setting:A survey was distributed electronically to organisations, parents and student groups in Southern California 10 months after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic.Sample:A total of 217 students aged between 12 and 19 years old.Measures:Questions were adapted from a previous nationwide online survey about COVID-19.Analysis:Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the data.Results:The most common type of information (communication) source was an interpersonal one (parents), and the least common type was an official (federal, school) source. Statistically significant better protective behaviours aligned with COVID-19 recommendations were seen in students who received more information from official sources; less information from social media or friends; believed in the accuracy and benefits of utilising the COVID-19 pandemic information and learned about the use of disinfectants and were confident in cleaning surfaces of devices and equipped. However, those who perceived themselves at risk of COVID-19 infection and had perceived high risks in general reported lower (but not statistically significant) compliance with protective behaviour. The level of knowledge about COVID-19 was not statistically associated with compliance with protective behaviour.Conclusion:Parents’ role in guiding adolescents is critical. Evidence-based information about COVID-19 should be delivered through official sources to facilitate adolescents’ understanding and active participation in public health efforts.