Survey of risk perception among young military personnel serving in high-altitude regions in early stage of COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective To investigate the risk perception of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among young military personnel serving in high-altitude regions in the early stage of COVID-19 outbreak. Methods Using Risk Cognitive Questionnaire (RCQ), we conducted an online survey of risk perception for COVID-19 among 1 093 young military personnel serving in regions of different altitudes (4 000 m) in the early stage of COVID-19 outbreak (January 28 to 30, 2020), and analyzed the differences in risk cognition among the subjects. Results ① The military personnel serving in high- and low-altitude regions showed significant differences in total RCQ scores and the scores for controllability, familiarity, fear and reversibility (P < 0.05). ②The total RCQ scores differed significantly among the subjects with different marital status, education levels and experience of public health emergencies (P < 0.05). ③Altitude, marital status, education and experience of public health emergencies were all important factors affecting risk perception of the disease among the young military personnel (P < 0.05). ④The personnel serving in low-altitude (< 1 000 m) regions who were unmarried, had a college degree, and had previous experience of public health emergencies had the lowest total RCQ scores, while those serving in regions above 4 000 m who were married and had at least a bachelor's degree without experience of public health emergencies had the highest total RCQ scores (P < 0.05). Conclusion As the altitude increases, the risk perception for COVID-19 tends to increase among the young military personnel. Special attention should be given to the mental health status of the well-educated, married personnel serving in high-altitude regions who have no experience of public health emergencies.

Keywords

• coronavirus disease 2019
• high altitude
• military personnel
• risk perception