Do Perceived Barriers, Benefits, and Severity Have Effect on Mask‑Wearing Habits During the Coronavirus Disease‑2019 Pandemic?

Introduction: The centers for disease prevention and control advise wearing a cloth face covering in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019, especially in situations when maintaining social distancing is challenging. As a result, the current study sought to identify the factors influencing mask behavior using constructs from the health belief model (HBM). Methods: This cross‑sectional study was conducted on 311 participants who were referred to the Health Centers of Arak, Iran, from November 2021 to December 2021. The participants were selected through multi‑stage stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire and consisted of sociodemographic data, mask‑wearing behavior, and structures of HBM regarding mask wearing. Results: The participants’ mean (standard deviation) age was 37.9 (12) years (ranging from 18–81). The rate of “always” wearing a face mask was 57.9%. Multiple regression analysis revealed that mask‑wearing behavior was associated with demographic variables (age and gender), perceived severity (β = 0.17, P 0.001), perceived benefits (β = 0.24, P 0.001), and self‑efficacy (β = 0.35, P 0.001). The HBM constructs explained 46% of the variance of mask‑wearing behavior (F [9,301] = 30, R = 0.68, [P 0.001]). Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, HBM constructs can be treated as a predictor of mask wearing. Based on this predictor (self‑efficacy, perceived severity, and benefits), effective interventions and healthy messages can be designed to improve mask‑wearing behavior.