Characteristics, Heterogeneity, and Influencing Factors of Residents’ Risk Perception: Evidence from COVID-19 Epidemic in China

An in-depth examination of people’s risk perceptions under public health emergencies is critical for risk management and policymaking. Based on the first-hand data collected in the early outbreak of coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19), the paper attempts to explore the characteristics, heterogeneity, and influencing factors of risk perceptions in China. We found that during that period, individuals exhibited a higher risk perception of COVID-19, which may be classified into perceived severity and vulnerability. Second, there was significant social and spatial heterogeneity in risk perceptions. The internal differences are most pronounced in the social groups of age, education status, self-rated health, and employment status. Respondents inside and outside of Hubei province expressed similar perceptions of vulnerability but differed in their perceptions of severity. Third, apart from aforementioned internal(individual-) factors, we found that external (contextual-) factors can significantly influence public risk perceptions, including residential environment (such as housing condition, neighborhood type, medical resources provision, etc.), satisfaction with information, and risk exposure to COVID-19. The theoretical and practical implications of this study enrich our knowledge of the epidemic’s risk perception and provide specific suggestions for preventing the local spread of this ongoing epidemic.