Influence of trust on two different risk perceptions as an affective and cognitive dimension during Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in South Korea: serial cross-sectional surveys

Jang, Won Mo; Kim, Un-Na; Jang, Deok Hyun; Jung, Hyemin; Cho, Sanghyun; Eun, Sang Jun; Lee, Jin Yong

Second, our study shows that low trust in government had influenced both affective and cognitive risk perceptions. We tried to assess the competence-based trust using presidential job approval rating. After party identification was adjusted, we examine correlation with trust and risk perception. It is consistent with previous studies that trust in government could shape the public`s risk perception (both affective and cognitive). 21 22 26 27 However, the previous studies have not distinguished between affective and cognitive reaction when evaluating the impact of trust regarding contagious diseases during outbreaks. 3 12 23 24 28-30 Our findings suggest that trust in government is correlated with both affective and cognitive risk perception and it is important to understand the relationship between trust in government and two different aspects of risk perceptions. Those who did not support the president were reported to have had higher risk perception in both the affective and cognitive levels. In the group that did not approve of the president, the probabilities of risk perception were higher at the cognitive dimension than at affective dimension. In the early days of the MERS-COV outbreak, the government did not specify details regarding scientifically uncertain information in order to reduce public anxiety over the crisis, nor did the government disclose which hospitals the confirmed patients had visited. This resulted in increased public distrust in the government. 4 5 8 9 Similar pattern of distrust in the government was associated with the spread of infection, during the outbreak of Ebola. 34 35 Those who disapproved of the ruling party had also higher risk perceptions.