The Longitudinal Relationship Between Negative Emotions and Pandemic Protective Behaviors in Older Adults: Moderating Effect of Online Health Information Seeking

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to investigate the reciprocal relationship between negative emotions and protective behaviors of older adults and the moderating effect of online health information seeking (OHIS) change on the relationship. Based on a sample of over 20,000 individuals from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe project, the study used a cross‐lagged panel design(CLPD) on 2 waves of Corona Survey to analyze the relationship between negative emotions and protective behaviors with OHIS change as a moderator. The findings suggest that the number of negative emotions can positively predict protective behaviors, and OHIS can have moderating effects on negative emotions and protective behaviors. The result pinpoints the substantial potential of mental health and OHIS to combat infectious diseases in this vulnerable population.