Covid-19 concern and movement controlled order in malaysia among Yemeni students: third person effect analysis

• Main Author: Bawazir, Ala Omar Mohammed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: P Philology. Linguistics
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/112078/2/112078_Covid-19%20concern%20and%20movement%20controlled%20order.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/112078/; https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RV_l9q6Kd0GLHpHyncyEGwzytaL0BFKm/view

The third person effect theory postulates that people would underestimate media effect on themselves but overestimate the media effect on others. A “reverse” third person effect happens when the intended impact is perceived to be desirable or positive on oneself. This perception is sometimes referred to as the first-person effect claiming that people perceive greater communication influence on themselves than on others. This article utilized TPE theory to explore how the Yemeni students in Malaysia perceive the effect health warning of COVID-19 and MCO instructions on self, family and friends compared to Malaysian citizens. This study employs a quantitative research design through the use of a questionnaire as an instrument for its survey involving 152 Yemeni students from various Malaysia universities. This study found that the respondents perceived COVID-19 and MCO instructions of adopting social distancing and adopting cleaning hands to have more impact on self, family and friends than on others. The acceptance of the messages means that the students considered the messages positive, desirable and helpful. This leads them to perceive the effect on self-more than on others which reflects first person effect. The role of social distance and education of this reversal in third person perceptions are discussed.