Detailed Information

Cited 0 time in webofscience Cited 0 time in scopus
Metadata Downloads

Understanding user responses to the COVID-19 pandemic on Twitter from a terror management theory perspective: Cultural differences among the US, UK and India

Authors
Kwon, SoyeonPark, Albert
Issue Date
Mar-2022
Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic; Terror management theory; Twitter; Topic modeling; Cultural differences
Citation
COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR, v.128
Indexed
SSCI
SCOPUS
Journal Title
COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR
Volume
128
URI
https://scholar.korea.ac.kr/handle/2021.sw.korea/135206
DOI
10.1016/j.chb.2021.107087
ISSN
0747-5632
1873-7692
Abstract
This study uses a new approach to understand people's varied responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Heightened media coverage and surging death tolls undoubtedly increase individuals' death-related thoughts. Thus, this study draws on terror management theory to analyze the general public's reactions during which mortality is salient. Twitter data were collected from three countries-the US, the UK, and India. Topic modeling analysis using Latent Dirichlet Allocation identified a total of seven themes reflecting two types of defenses: proximal defenses and distal defenses. Proximal defenses included calls for behavioral changes in response to COVID-19. Distal defenses included searching for meaning, political polarization and government incompetence, racial division, and sharing up-to-date information. During a prolonged crisis, anxiety-buffering systems can be undermined and lead to either maladaptive defenses (i.e., psychological distress) or new forms of defenses (i.e., adjusting to the new normal). The analysis highlights cultural differences in defenses across the three countries. Theoretical and practical implications for public health practitioners and social media platform managers are then discussed.
Files in This Item
There are no files associated with this item.
Appears in
Collections
College of Global Business > Digital Business in Division of Convergence Business > 1. Journal Articles

qrcode

Items in ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Altmetrics

Total Views & Downloads

BROWSE