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Objective To analyze the characteristics of risk perception of military personnel in different areas during the early stage of COVID-19 outbreak. Methods We conducted an online survey of risk perception using Risk Cognitive Questionnaire (RCQ) among 4 526 young (18 to 35 years of age) military officers and soldiers serving in 31 Chinese provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities between January 26th to February 4th, 2020. The difference in risk perception was analyzed among the individuals from different geographic regions with varying epidemic risks (grades C1~C5 according to the cumulative number of confirmed cases in each province and city) and distances from the risk area (grades D1~D5 according to the straight distance to Wuhan). Results The factor scores of RCQ varied significantly among the military personnel serving in regions with different grades of epidemic risk (F=22.399, P < 0.001). With the reduction of the grade of epidemic risk, the changes in RCQ scores of the surveyed participants presented with an inverted N-shaped curve (P < 0.01). The RCQ scores also varied significantly with the distance from the risk areas (F=15.729, P < 0.01), and as the distance from the risk area increased, the RCQ scores of the participants showed a gradual downward trend (P < 0.05). Gender, age, education and marital status all significantly affected RCQ scores of the participants in different areas (P < 0.01 or 0.05). Conclusion In the early stage of COVID-19 outbreak, the level of risk perception among young military personnel is decreased gradually with the decrease of the grade of local risk and the increase of distance from the epicenter of the outbreak.

Objective To investigate the risk perception of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among young military personnel serving in high-altitude regions in the early stage of COVID-19 outbreak. Methods Using Risk Cognitive Questionnaire (RCQ), we conducted an online survey of risk perception for COVID-19 among 1 093 young military personnel serving in regions of different altitudes (< 1 000 m, 3 000-4 000 m, and >4 000 m) in the early stage of COVID-19 outbreak (January 28 to 30, 2020), and analyzed the differences in risk cognition among the subjects. Results ① The military personnel serving in high- and low-altitude regions showed significant differences in total RCQ scores and the scores for controllability, familiarity, fear and reversibility (P < 0.05). ②The total RCQ scores differed significantly among the subjects with different marital status, education levels and experience of public health emergencies (P < 0.05). ③Altitude, marital status, education and experience of public health emergencies were all important factors affecting risk perception of the disease among the young military personnel (P < 0.05). ④The personnel serving in low-altitude (< 1 000 m) regions who were unmarried, had a college degree, and had previous experience of public health emergencies had the lowest total RCQ scores, while those serving in regions above 4 000 m who were married and had at least a bachelor's degree without experience of public health emergencies had the highest total RCQ scores (P < 0.05). Conclusion As the altitude increases, the risk perception for COVID-19 tends to increase among the young military personnel. Special attention should be given to the mental health status of the well-educated, married personnel serving in high-altitude regions who have no experience of public health emergencies.