UNDERSTANDING INDONESIAN CITIZEN'S INTENTIONS TO TAKE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE MEASURES AND FOLLOW A STAY-AT-HOME ORDER TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

Abstract

Purpose of the study: This study is aimed to analyze the factors which influence the Intention of the Indonesian public to take personal protective measures and follow the stay-at-home order. Methodology: This study was a cross-sectional study, using an instrument of an online questionnaire consisting of 75 questions. A total of 8 hypotheses, built on the foundation of the TPB and PMT model, was tested. The hypotheses were tested using a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). An online questionnaire was distributed in May 2020 with the target population of the Indonesian public, especially the ones who have a stay-at-home order in their cities. Main Findings: All 8 hypotheses were accepted. In the TPB model, It was revealed that Attitude (AT), Subjective Norms (SN), and Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) significantly affect the public Intention to take personal protective measures. While in the PMT model, Perceived Vulnerability (PV), Perceived Severity (PS), Self-efficacy (SE), Response Efficacy (RE), and Response Cost (RC) have significant relationships with the public Intention to follow a stay-at-home order. Applications of this study: Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) is found to be a powerful predictor of the public Intention to take personal protective measures while for the compliance towards stay-at-home order, Response Efficacy (RE) is found to be a powerful predictor. Therefore, governments and public health organizations are encouraged to focus on giving educations to the public of how a stay-at-home order could be a crucial thing to do in combating COVID-19 promoting to the public that taking personal protective measures is a good thing and not a hard action to do. Novelty/Originality of this study: We addressed COVID-19 in a novel way, which is understanding people's underlying psychological factors that influence particular COVID-19 related behaviors. By doing so, this study helps researchers and policymakers in making the appropriate policies and recommendations in slowing the spread of COVID-19.