Study on the influencing factors and intervention strategies of public panic buying during public health emergencies

Abstract Objective To examine the prevalence and influencing factors of panic buying of emergency supplies among the public during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic and provide a reference for public responses. Methods Using a self-designed questionnaire on panic buying during COVID-1...

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Main Authors: Heting Wu, Ruirui Xie, Lili Ding, Huiling Dong, Guifang Ren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21070-y
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author Heting Wu
Ruirui Xie
Lili Ding
Huiling Dong
Guifang Ren
author_facet Heting Wu
Ruirui Xie
Lili Ding
Huiling Dong
Guifang Ren
author_sort Heting Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective To examine the prevalence and influencing factors of panic buying of emergency supplies among the public during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic and provide a reference for public responses. Methods Using a self-designed questionnaire on panic buying during COVID-19, we conducted an online voluntary anonymous survey among adult internet users (≥ 18 years) in China from June to July 2022. Descriptive analysis, χ 2 test and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the influencing factors of public panic buying. Results The high-risk categories for panic buying included younger individuals, women, students, and those with lower economic status (P < 0.05). Media factors, psychological panic, reference group, psychological value expectation, group identification, and social control ability were identified as important factors influencing the occurrence of public panic buying (P < 0.05). Among those factors, media influence, psychological panic, reference groups, psychological value expectations, and group identity increased the influence on panic buying, however, social control ability decreased the influence on panic buying. Conclusions Public panic buying behavior can have a negative impact on social stability, and it is crucial to reduce the occurrence of such behavior. Based on the empirical results of this study, we can propose intervention measures from several aspects, including media factors, psychological panic, reference group, psychological value expectation, group identification, and social control ability. However, this study only examined the risk factors influencing panic buying behavior. Future research could further analyze the pathways of influence among these factors.
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spelling doaj-art-e298ef185a82435ea974cf8d7b185f6a2024-12-22T12:53:42ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-12-012411910.1186/s12889-024-21070-yStudy on the influencing factors and intervention strategies of public panic buying during public health emergenciesHeting Wu0Ruirui Xie1Lili Ding2Huiling Dong3Guifang Ren4School of Mathematical Sciences, University of NottinghamSchool of Public Health, Shandong Second Medical UniversitySchool of Management, Shandong Second Medical UniversitySchool of Nursing, Shandong Second Medical UniversityPresident’s Office of Weifang people’s hospitalAbstract Objective To examine the prevalence and influencing factors of panic buying of emergency supplies among the public during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic and provide a reference for public responses. Methods Using a self-designed questionnaire on panic buying during COVID-19, we conducted an online voluntary anonymous survey among adult internet users (≥ 18 years) in China from June to July 2022. Descriptive analysis, χ 2 test and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the influencing factors of public panic buying. Results The high-risk categories for panic buying included younger individuals, women, students, and those with lower economic status (P < 0.05). Media factors, psychological panic, reference group, psychological value expectation, group identification, and social control ability were identified as important factors influencing the occurrence of public panic buying (P < 0.05). Among those factors, media influence, psychological panic, reference groups, psychological value expectations, and group identity increased the influence on panic buying, however, social control ability decreased the influence on panic buying. Conclusions Public panic buying behavior can have a negative impact on social stability, and it is crucial to reduce the occurrence of such behavior. Based on the empirical results of this study, we can propose intervention measures from several aspects, including media factors, psychological panic, reference group, psychological value expectation, group identification, and social control ability. However, this study only examined the risk factors influencing panic buying behavior. Future research could further analyze the pathways of influence among these factors.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21070-yPublic health emergenciesPanic buyingInfluencing factorsIntervention strategies
spellingShingle Heting Wu
Ruirui Xie
Lili Ding
Huiling Dong
Guifang Ren
Study on the influencing factors and intervention strategies of public panic buying during public health emergencies
BMC Public Health
Public health emergencies
Panic buying
Influencing factors
Intervention strategies
title Study on the influencing factors and intervention strategies of public panic buying during public health emergencies
title_full Study on the influencing factors and intervention strategies of public panic buying during public health emergencies
title_fullStr Study on the influencing factors and intervention strategies of public panic buying during public health emergencies
title_full_unstemmed Study on the influencing factors and intervention strategies of public panic buying during public health emergencies
title_short Study on the influencing factors and intervention strategies of public panic buying during public health emergencies
title_sort study on the influencing factors and intervention strategies of public panic buying during public health emergencies
topic Public health emergencies
Panic buying
Influencing factors
Intervention strategies
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21070-y
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