The Influence of Social Media on Public Health Protection against the COVID-19 Pandemic through Public Health Awareness and Changes in Behavior: An Integrated Model

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.

2 Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universiti Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, Km 8, Jalan Gambang, 25150 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.

3 Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universiti Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, Km 8, Jalan Gambang, 25150 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

10.22059/jitm.2025.99925

Abstract

In the case of COVID-19, researchers have found a statistically significant improvement in public health protection against COVID-19 with social media platforms. Multiple studies suggest that evidence of social media's influence on health knowledge, behaviors, and outcomes indicates its potential benefits in meeting the needs of individuals and populations. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the influence of social media on public health protections against COVID-19 in terms of public health awareness and behavioral changes. It adopted a quantitative research design to identify the relationship and used questionnaires to collect the data. Data was collected throughout Malaysia using convenience sampling. The results underscore the potential of social media as a valuable tool for disseminating crucial health information and promoting positive behavioral changes during public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords


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