Adolescents' adoption of COVID-19 preventive measures during the first months of the pandemic: what led to early adoption?/ Adoption de mesures préventives contre la COVID-19 par les adolescents au cours des premiers mois de la pandémie : qu'est-ce qui a mené à l'adoption rapide?

Bacque Dion, Claude; Bélanger, Richard; Leatherdale, Scott T; Haddad, Slim

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were to explore the extent to which adolescents adopted COVID-19 preventive measures in the first few months of the pandemic and to understand their adoption by looking at interconnected adoption-related factors and determining the strength of these factors, particularly among subgroups not expected to be early adopters. METHODS: Analyses focus on data collected during Spring 2020 from 29 eastern Quebec secondary schools that participated in the COMPASS study. Participants (n = 6052) self-reported their knowledge, perception of risk and preventive practices to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed using structural equation models based on gender and anxiety level. RESULTS: The majority of respondents reported adopting the recommended COVID-19 preventive measures. The results showed three paths leading to adolescents' adoption of these measures: pandemic knowledge; perception of risk related to COVID-19; and, in particular, discussions with relatives about preventive measures and what to do in case of infection. CONCLUSIONS: While most of the adolescent participants in this study appeared to comply with COVID-19 preventive measures, factors such as discussions with relatives emerge as elements to foster in order to improve adolescents' adoption of preventive measures.