Table 3.
Constructs, items, and reliability and validity assessments.
| Construct, item | Loading | VIFa | |
| Information overload [31] (CRb: 0.86; AVEc: 0.67) | |||
|
|
“I am often distracted by the excessive amount of information on multiple channels/sources about COVID-19d” | 0.77 | 1.453 |
|
|
“I find that I am overwhelmed by the amount of information that I process on a daily basis from multiple channels/sources about COVID-19” | 0.85 | 1.794 |
|
|
“I receive too much information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic to form a coherent picture of what is happening” | 0.82 | 1.481 |
| Cyberchondria [35] (CR: 0.82; AVE: 0.61) | |||
|
|
“After reading information about COVID-19 online, I feel confused” | —e | —e |
|
|
“I feel frightened after reading information about COVID-19 online” | 0.79 | 1.381 |
|
|
“I feel frustrated after reading information about COVID-19 online” | 0.78 | 1.478 |
|
|
“Once I start reading information about COVID-19 online, it is hard for me to stop” | 0.78 | 1.265 |
| Perceived severity [36] (CR: 0.70; AVE: 0.52) | |||
|
|
“The negative impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is very high” | 0.70 | 1.002 |
|
|
“Coronavirus (COVID-19) can be life-threatening” | —e | —e |
|
|
“The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a serious threat for someone like me” | 0.73 | 1.002 |
| Perceived vulnerability [36] (CR: 0.81; AVE: 0.60) | |||
|
|
“I am vulnerable to contracting Coronavirus (COVID-19) in given circumstances” | 0.71 | 1.367 |
|
|
“I don't think I am likely to get the Coronavirus (COVID-19)”f | 0.86 | 1.296. |
|
|
“I am at risk of catching the Coronavirus (COVID-19)” | 0.74 | 1.567 |
| Self-efficacy [36] (CR: 0.84; AVE:0.64) | |||
|
|
“I am able to take avoidant measures if I want to” | 0.79 | 1.254 |
|
|
“Taking avoidant measures is difficult for me”f | 0.84 | 1.652 |
|
|
“Avoidant measures are easy to take” | 0.78 | 1.617 |
| Response efficacy [37] (CR=0.89; AVE=0.80) | |||
|
|
“The avoidant measures are a good way of reducing the risk of contracting Coronavirus (COVID-19)” | 0.90 | 1.614 |
|
|
“The avoidant measures reduce my chance of catching the Coronavirus (COVID-19)” | 0.89 | 1.614 |
| Response cost [37] (CR=0.78; AVE=0.54) | |||
|
|
“The benefits of taking avoidant measures outweigh the costs”f | 0.72 | 1.146 |
|
|
“I am discouraged from taking avoidant measures as they would impact my work” | 0.75 | 1.202 |
|
|
“I am discouraged from taking avoidant measures because they feel silly” | 0.73 | 1.215 |
| Self-isolation intention [38] (CR=0.83; AVE=0.55) | |||
|
|
“Deliberately cancel or postpone a social event, such as meeting with friends, eating out, or going to a sports event” | 0.77 | 1.499 |
|
|
“Reduce using public transport” | 0.70 | 1.340 |
|
|
“Avoid going to shops” | 0.72 | 1.455 |
|
|
“Stay at home and study/work remotely” | 0.77 | 1.312 |
aVIF: variance inflation factor.
bCR: composite reliability.
cAVE: average variance explained.
dCOVID-19: coronavirus disease.
eItems removed due to lower loadings (<0.7).
fItems reverse coded for the analysis.