Exposure to information from divergent sources and altruistic behavior in Public Health Emergency: An examination of the mediating roles of public trust, risk uncertainty and self-efficacy

Based on Protection Motivation Theory, this study investigates the factors that influence altruistic behavior during COVID-19 lockdowns. A survey of 582 respondents who had experienced the pandemic lockdown or quarantine in China revealed that exposure to information from both formal and alternative sources reduces risk uncertainty. Exposure to information from formal sources increases public trust while exposure to alternative sources shows no significant association with public trust. Risk uncertainty has a direct negative effect on altruistic behavior and an indirect negative effect mediated by self-efficacy. Public trust exerts a positive effect on altruistic behavior mediated by self-efficacy. The findings demonstrate that building public trust and reducing risk uncertainty through effective communication from formal sources can bolster self-efficacy which further encourages altruistic behavior among people affected by strict control measures during a public health emergency.