The values toward COVID-19 in Japan : a survey study in the third wave of COVID-19

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the values observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan on a trial basis by analyzing data obtained from a survey questionnaire. To achieve the objective, exploratory factor analysis was conducted on 22 items indicating values about novel coronavirus infection. Items indicating a risk-oriented tendency toward novel coronaviruses were excluded in the analysis.As a result, a value structure of "freedom importance," "harm concern," and "coexistence importance" was obtained. To examine the relationship ofstructures and behavior, weconducted amultiple regression analysis using infection prevention and information diffusion behaviors as objective variables and found that all factor scores were significantly related to infection prevention behavior, and only factor scores for "freedom importance" and "coexistence importance" were significantly related to information diffusion behavior. Of these, the "freedom importance" factor was negatively associated with infection prevention behavior and positively associated with information diffusion behavior, suggesting that it may have influenced the rejection of socially recommended behaviors during the time the survey was conducted. Moreover, if the association between the values and information resourcewasexamined through correlation analysis, the "freedom" factor showed a littleassociation with lessfrequent use ofmass mediaandexperts asinformation resources.Therefore,valuesmayhave beenanimportant factor regulatingbehavioral flows in the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.