The effects of perceived social norms on handwashing behaviour in students
The effects of perceived social norms on handwashing behaviour in students
复制标题
DOI：
10.1080/13548506.2017.1338736
复制
发表时间：
2018-01-01
影响因子：
3.8
通讯作者：
MacKay, William
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Dickie, Rachel;Rasmussen, Susan;MacKay, William
洗手被广泛认为是防止传染病传播的最有效方法。探索洗手的决定因素对于制定干预措施以增加这种行为至关重要。基于社会规范理论的调查评估洗手频率和同伴洗手的看法，在255名大学生。参与者报告了他们自己的洗手频率，以及他们认为他们的同伴在特定情况下洗手的频率，以确定是否存在洗手的误解，以及这些误解是否影响个人的行为。性别被认为是洗手频率的一个重要决定因素，因为女性洗手的频率明显高于男性。参与者还认为，他们洗手的频率明显高于同龄人。感知同伴洗手频率与参与者自己的行为显著相关。这种影响在整体洗手和食物，废物和疾病相关的洗手中观察到。这些结果表明，洗手的社会规范与个人行为有明显的联系。未来的研究可能会测试社会规范干预在其他环境中的有效性，这些环境会增加感染传播的风险。
Handwashing is widely considered the most effective method of preventing the spread of infectious illness. Exploring the determinants of handwashing is vital to the development of interventions to increase this behaviour. A survey based on Social Norms Theory assessed handwashing frequency and perceptions of peer handwashing in 255 university students. Participants reported their own handwashing frequency, and how often they thought their peers washed their hands in particular circumstances, to determine whether misperceptions around handwashing exist, and whether these influence the behaviour of individuals. Gender was found to be a significant determinant of handwashing frequency as females reported washing their hands significantly more often than males. Participants also believed they washed their hands significantly more frequently than their peers. Perceived peer handwashing frequency was significantly correlated with participants' own behaviour. This effect was seen in overall handwashing and in food, waste and illness-related hand washing. These results suggest perceived social norms around hand washing have a clear association with individual behaviour. Future research might test the effectiveness of a social norms intervention in other settings which carry an increased risk of infection spread.