Analysis of preventive behaviours related to covid-19 among colombian people

This study aims to analyse the role of preventive behaviour in response to the perception of risk in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A multiple correspondence analysis was conducted using data collected from the PSY-Covid 2019 survey, which included a sample of 914 Colombian residents aged between 16 and 79 years (M = 32.3, SD = 12.4; women = 76.4%), all with a university education (96.6%), from urban areas (92.5%), and from a middle-income background (63.8%). Results: The data were grouped into seven variables: vulnerability to coronavirus, mental health, subjective social norm, barriers to/facilitators of preventive behaviours, self-efficacy, expectation of results, and intention of post-confinement preventive behaviours. The findings indicate that the variables contributing most to the first dimension, which explains preventive behaviour, are expectation of results, intention of post-confinement preventive behaviours, and self-efficacy. Regarding the subjective social norm variable, although it contributes most to the second dimension, it is not associated with the previously mentioned variables. It is recommended that studies be conducted in populations with varying educational levels and cultural characteristics.