Effect of Chinese young children’s epidemic cognition on their coping behavior: mediating role of emotion

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Young children’s epidemic awareness and risk prevention about public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 are issues of great importance deserving research. Objective To explore the effect of young children’s epidemic cognition on their coping behavior, and the mediating role of emotion. Method An online anonymous survey was administrated on 2221 Chinese parents of young children aged three to six during the COVID-19 overwhelming period. Results (1) The epidemic cognition (M = 4.17, SD = 0.73), the coping behavior (M = 4.16, SD = 0.65), and the emotion (M = 3.99, SD = 0.81) were at a relatively high level. (2) Young children’s epidemic cognition significantly predicted their coping behavior (β = 0.71, t = 45.29, P < 0.001). The positive prediction effect of epidemic cognition on young children’s emotion was significant (β = 0.19, t = 8.56, P < 0.001), and emotion had a significant positive predictive effect on young children’s coping behavior (β = 0.20, t = 4.89, P < 0.001). Conclusion Young children’s epidemic cognition can significantly predict their coping behavior, and emotion plays a significant mediating role in their relation. It is necessary for practitioners to optimize the contents and methods of epidemic education on young children.