Latent profile and network analysis of risk perception among a sample of Chinese university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study

BackgroundThe risk perception of contracting COVID-19 is an important topic for assessing and predicting COVID-19 infection and health education during the pandemic. However, studies that use latent profiles and network analysis together to measure the risk perception of COVID-19 are rare. Therefore, this study combined latent profile analysis and network analysis to measure risk perception toward COVID-19 among Chinese university students through a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.MethodsA sample of 1,837 Chinese university students (735 males, 40%) completed the cross-sectional study with an eight-item risk perception questionnaire in January 2020, while 334 Chinese university students (111 males, 33.2%) completed the longitudinal study at three time points.ResultsA two-class model including a low risk perception class (n = 1,005, 54.7%) and a high risk perception class (n = 832, 45.3%) was selected for the cross-sectional study. Nodes rp6 ("Average people have chances of contracting COVID-19'') and rp7 ("Average people worry about catching COVID-19") had the strongest edge intensity (r = 0.491), while node rp5 ("The COVID-19 outbreak affects the whole country") had the highest strength centrality in the cross-sectional study. The risk perception of contracting COVID-19 decreased continuously at the three time points. Moreover, the network structures and global strengths had no significant differences in the longitudinal study.ConclusionsThe risk perception of contracting COVID-19 decreased continually during the COVID-19 pandemic, which indicated the importance of cultural influence and effective government management in China. In addition, university students displayed strong trust and confidence in the government's ability to fight COVID-19. The results indicate that the government should take strong measures to prevent and intervene in various risks and reinforce the public's trust through positive media communications.