Mediating Effect of Viral Anxiety and Perceived Benefits of Physical Distancing on Adherence to Distancing Among High School Students Amid COVID-19

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to explore whether high school students’ adherence to physical distancing was associated with health beliefs, social norms, and psychological factors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: Overall, 300 high school students participated in this anonymous online survey conducted from October 18–24, 2021. The survey included rating scales such as attitude toward physical distancing during the pandemic, Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 items (SAVE-6), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 items, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Connor Davidson Resilience Scale 2-items. RESULTS: The results revealed that perceived susceptibility or severity (β = −0.13, P = 0.038), perceived benefit (β = 0.32, P < 0.001), descriptive social norms (β = 0.10, P = 0.041), social injunctive norms (β = 0.19, P < 0.001), and SAVE-6 (β = 0.24, P < 0.001) predicted students’ adherence to physical distancing (adjusted R(2) = 0.42, F = 19.2, P < 0.001). Social injunctive norms and personal injunctive norms directly influenced adherence to physical distancing. Viral anxiety, measured by SAVE-6, mediated the association between social injunctive norms and adherence to physical distancing, and perceived benefits mediated the relationship between personal injunctive norms and adherence to physical distancing. The influence of perceived susceptibility or severity on adherence to physical distancing was entirely mediated by perceived benefits or viral anxiety. CONCLUSION: Explaining the rationale or benefits of physical distancing may be important in increasing adherence to physical distancing among high school students.