Aim: A huge amount of information associated with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was circulated by mass media in Bangladesh. To date, there is no example on how the lifestyle of the community people in Bangladesh may influence mass media intervention during a pandemic. We aimed to assess mass media influence on changing the lifestyle behavior of people during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subject and methods An online cross-sectional survey with a limited face-to-face interview among 2080 Bangladeshi respondents was conducted between March 26 and April 1, 2020. Datasets were analyzed through a set of statistical methods such as classical test theory assessment, principal component analysis, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression model. Results: The results showed that there was a positive significant relationship between the composite lifestyle score and the social media is trustworthy during the COVID-19 pandemic (r=0.508, p < 0.01), while there was a negative relationship between the composite lifestyle score of the respondents and the daily online media platforms usage in COVID-19 period (r=−0.201, p < 0.01). The results also disclosed that knowledge level, media credibility, and media check-in had the largest contribution to influence the changing lifestyle of the community people. We also found that social media was highly used media as expected during the COVID-19 outbreak while the administrative action has little influence on the changing lifestyle behavior. Conclusion: Our outcomes stress the significance of the reliability of information shared via mass media outlets and practical strategies to counter misinformation during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Mass Media Influence on Changing lifestyle of Community People During COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh: A Cross Sectional Survey