How Progressive Containment Measures have Impacted Risk Perception and Self-Restraint Behaviours in a Sample of Italian Students

This contribution proposes a study on the change in risk perception and behavioral responses of a convenience sample of 707 university students (M_age = 23.4; SD = 5.4) in Lazio Region during the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic in Italy. Three time intervals defined by the progressive containment measures implemented by the Italian Government were considered. Main outcome measures were the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Risk Perception Index (RPI), Index of Self-restraint Behaviours (ISRB), Institutional and Interpersonal Trust Measures (IIT). Results confirmed that significant changes in the time progression have occurred in the perception of risk, in the perception of individual self-efficacy, in the value attributed to social responsibility, in interpersonal trust and in trust in health authorities.