Investigating Post-COVID-19 Risk Perception and Preventive Behaviour Among Individuals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background Behavioural intention post-COVID-19 can impact an individual's risk perception and preventive/protective behaviour. Studies have shown that risk perception has a relationship with behavioural intentions in a way that can affect an individual's life. The aim of the study was to assess behavioural intention and preventive/protective behaviour post-COVID-19 pandemic among Saudis. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional (quantitative) study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to forecast the perception of post-COVID-19 risk and the preventive and protective behaviours. The duration of the study was three months, starting from January to March 2023, and the sample size was 386 individuals. The target population in this study was Saudis residing in Riyadh in the age range of 18-53 years and above. The data was collected using a self-administered online questionnaire and analysed using statistical software called JMP. Results The total number of the study sample was 386 participants; most of the participants were women (n=316, 81.87%). The majority of participants reported taking three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (n=288, 74.61%), and nearly 60% (n=232, 60.10%) of them reported not getting infected with COVID-19 after vaccinations. The overall regression was statistically significant (R²=0.478, F=175.33, p<0.0001) and it was found that social emotion and risk perception predicted behavioural intention and preventive/protective behaviour significantly. There was a moderate positive correlation between behavioural intention and the social emotion of participants (0.686). Also, there was a positive correlation relation between preventive/protective behaviour and social emotion (0.578). Conclusion This study revealed that social emotions and the preventive/protective intention to perform preventive/protective behaviour predict the tendency to practise preventive/protective behaviour. Risk perception also affected protective behaviour and intention.