Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5673/sip.62.2.6
Is COVID-19 a Disease or “Disease”? Personal Beliefs and Status Vulnerability as Determinants of Preventive Behaviour of Persons with Haemophilia in Croatia
Marko Marinić
orcid.org/0000-0002-9683-7571
; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb, Croatia
Stanko Rihtar
orcid.org/0000-0002-1369-7148
; Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb, Croatia
Kruno Sokol
; Institute of Public Health of Zagreb County, Department of Epidemiology, Zaprešić, Croatia
Abstract
The protection from the coronavirus, especially among persons with severe diseases,
has been one of the central topics since the beginning of the pandemic. It has been
shown that real (physical) and symbolic threats (beliefs related to the pandemic) have an opposite
effect on behaviour: personal vulnerability (threats to physical and material well-being)
instigates appropriate preventive behaviour, while symbolic threats result in neglecting or in
various ways avoiding of epidemiological measures.
In this paper we attempted to examine the extent to which objective (status) vulnerability and
personal beliefs regarding the pandemic were absolutely and concurrently relevant factors of
preventive behaviour among persons with haemophilia. The survey was conducted among
adults with haemophilia in Croatia (N=98). Along with health status, age and income were also considered as indicators of objective vulnerability. Furthermore, beliefs were examined by
exploring satisfaction with the corona crisis management, tendency towards conspiracy theories,
opinions on vaccine safety and disease severity, and the fear of becoming infected.
The results revealed a correlation between preventive behaviour and age and beliefs (gathered
in a unique syndrome), while health and material status did not play a significant role. The
regression showed that beliefs were statistically significant and were the only independent determinant
of preventive behaviour.
The results support the findings suggesting that beliefs grouped around the tendency towards
conspiracy theories can be more relevant for preventive behaviour than status vulnerability,
including haemophilia-related health impairment.
Keywords
haemophilia; COVID-19; vulnerable health; personal beliefs; prevention; sociology of health
Hrčak ID:
322193
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2024.
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