Predicting COVID-19 Compliance Behaviors in College Students Using the Health Belief Model

Concerns of transmission of the COVID-19 virus through college students has been a concern since the beginning of the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to explore beliefs that influenced compliance behaviors among college students based on the health belief model. A survey was distributed to a convenient sample of students in a southern state using Qualtrics software and data was analyzed using SAS statistical software. The results showed that participants were compliant with COVID-19 regulations and that the HBM construct threat perception (perceived severity and susceptibility) was the strongest predictor of compliance. Gender, classification, and institution type were also significant predictors of compliance.