Unveiling the association between information sources and young adults' attitudes and concerns during COVID-19: Results from the iCARE study

Objectives: Throughout COVID-19, uncertain information on the virus and preventive measures circulated. Young adults, often relying on social rather than traditional media, showed lower adherence to recommendations. This study examines associations between information sources, attitudes toward public health measures and concerns among young adults. Study design: A repeated cross-sectional design was employed. Methods: We analyzed a sample of 2121 Canadians aged 18-29 from the iCARE study. Participants were recruited via a polling firm's web panel between October 2020 and June 2021. Results: Regression analyses showed that those extensively consulting traditional media (OR = 1.9, 95 % CI:1.4-2.4) and internet news (OR = 2.1, 95 % CI:1.6-2.7) were more likely to report that implementing preventive measures was important. Those consulting traditional media were less likely to report their strictness (OR = 0.6, 95 % CI:0.4-0.8). Extensive social media use was unrelated to these variables (ps > 0.60). Consulting extensively traditional media was associated with higher health (beta = 0.18, p < 0.001) and social (beta = 0.10, p = 0.02) concerns; internet news with greater health (beta = 0.25, p < 0.001) and social (beta = 0.04, p < 0.001) concerns; social media only with social concerns (beta = 0.13, p = 0.008). Financial concerns were not associated with any information source (ps > 0.11). Conclusion: Heavy reliance on traditional media and internet news was associated with greater concerns and positive attitudes toward preventive measures. Heavy reliance on social media was not associated with positive attitudes but with social concerns. Findings underscore the complex link between media behaviour and individual perceptions, stressing the need for governments to acknowledge this issue to promote positive attitudes and reduce concerns in future public health crises.