COVID-19-Related Beliefs and Dietary Behaviors of American Undergraduate Students Vary by Race via the Lens of the Health Belief Model
The COVID-19 pandemic caused immense physical disruptions, affecting young adults in the U.S. The Health Belief Model is a social psychological framework that predicts the likelihood of adopting health behavior. The purpose of this research is to investigate COVID-19-related health beliefs and dieta...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | COVID |
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| author | Doreen Liou Jong Min Lee |
| author_facet | Doreen Liou Jong Min Lee |
| author_sort | Doreen Liou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic caused immense physical disruptions, affecting young adults in the U.S. The Health Belief Model is a social psychological framework that predicts the likelihood of adopting health behavior. The purpose of this research is to investigate COVID-19-related health beliefs and dietary behaviors among undergraduate students during the pandemic. Using convenience sampling, a cross-sectional survey was completed by 304 individuals at a New Jersey state university. Survey data included the frequency of COVID-19 prevention behaviors (e.g., wearing an indoor mask, handwashing), and consumption of fruit and vegetables. The Health Belief Model constructs measured perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy. Frequency distributions, <i>t</i>-tests, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were investigated for racial subgroups (Whites, Blacks, Latinos, and Asians). The mean age of the sample was 21.7, with 27% males, and 46% self-identified as White. Whites adopted fewer COVID-19 prevention behaviors (<i>p</i> < 0.001) than non-Whites. Black students perceived less COVID-19 severity (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and stronger perceived benefits (<i>p</i> < 0.05) than the other subgroups. Latino students perceived greater susceptibility (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and greater barriers than non-Latinos. Asians practiced higher mask wearing frequency (<i>p</i> < 0.05) but less daily fruit intake than their counterparts (<i>p</i> < 0.01). This research highlights the importance of handwashing, wearing indoor masks, and consuming produce among university students. Addressing barriers to health action while promoting the benefits of enacting behaviors to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 is warranted. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2ee042fbe9874c02864424c615f1d198 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-8112 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | COVID |
| spelling | doaj-art-2ee042fbe9874c02864424c615f1d1982025-08-20T03:58:30ZengMDPI AGCOVID2673-81122025-07-015710210.3390/covid5070102COVID-19-Related Beliefs and Dietary Behaviors of American Undergraduate Students Vary by Race via the Lens of the Health Belief ModelDoreen Liou0Jong Min Lee1Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USADepartment of Nutrition and Food Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USAThe COVID-19 pandemic caused immense physical disruptions, affecting young adults in the U.S. The Health Belief Model is a social psychological framework that predicts the likelihood of adopting health behavior. The purpose of this research is to investigate COVID-19-related health beliefs and dietary behaviors among undergraduate students during the pandemic. Using convenience sampling, a cross-sectional survey was completed by 304 individuals at a New Jersey state university. Survey data included the frequency of COVID-19 prevention behaviors (e.g., wearing an indoor mask, handwashing), and consumption of fruit and vegetables. The Health Belief Model constructs measured perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy. Frequency distributions, <i>t</i>-tests, and Kruskal–Wallis tests were investigated for racial subgroups (Whites, Blacks, Latinos, and Asians). The mean age of the sample was 21.7, with 27% males, and 46% self-identified as White. Whites adopted fewer COVID-19 prevention behaviors (<i>p</i> < 0.001) than non-Whites. Black students perceived less COVID-19 severity (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and stronger perceived benefits (<i>p</i> < 0.05) than the other subgroups. Latino students perceived greater susceptibility (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and greater barriers than non-Latinos. Asians practiced higher mask wearing frequency (<i>p</i> < 0.05) but less daily fruit intake than their counterparts (<i>p</i> < 0.01). This research highlights the importance of handwashing, wearing indoor masks, and consuming produce among university students. Addressing barriers to health action while promoting the benefits of enacting behaviors to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 is warranted.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/7/102COVID-19Health Belief Modelhealth behaviorsuniversity students |
| spellingShingle | Doreen Liou Jong Min Lee COVID-19-Related Beliefs and Dietary Behaviors of American Undergraduate Students Vary by Race via the Lens of the Health Belief Model COVID COVID-19 Health Belief Model health behaviors university students |
| title | COVID-19-Related Beliefs and Dietary Behaviors of American Undergraduate Students Vary by Race via the Lens of the Health Belief Model |
| title_full | COVID-19-Related Beliefs and Dietary Behaviors of American Undergraduate Students Vary by Race via the Lens of the Health Belief Model |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19-Related Beliefs and Dietary Behaviors of American Undergraduate Students Vary by Race via the Lens of the Health Belief Model |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19-Related Beliefs and Dietary Behaviors of American Undergraduate Students Vary by Race via the Lens of the Health Belief Model |
| title_short | COVID-19-Related Beliefs and Dietary Behaviors of American Undergraduate Students Vary by Race via the Lens of the Health Belief Model |
| title_sort | covid 19 related beliefs and dietary behaviors of american undergraduate students vary by race via the lens of the health belief model |
| topic | COVID-19 Health Belief Model health behaviors university students |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/5/7/102 |
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