<p>Given the characteristics of the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, the need to implement personal prevention measures to control the spread of the disease has increased.&nbsp;The perception of personal risk of contracting the disease is one of the factors that contribute to the increase in public participation in preventive measures.&nbsp;In this study, we conducted a self-access survey on the Internet, targeted towards people with a higher education level in México, with the aim of showing the causal factors that contribute to the high / low perception of personal risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<p>A quantitative, analytical and&nbsp;explanatory&nbsp;study was&nbsp;carried out with a cross-sectional design.&nbsp;For the statistical analysis and the interpretation of the data, the&nbsp;classification trees technique&nbsp;was used.&nbsp;Out of the probabilistic rules found in the model, it was found&nbsp;that the independent variables that contributed directly to the overall perception of risk were:&nbsp;the severity of the pandemic, vulnerability to disease, and catastrophic power.&nbsp;It can be concluded&nbsp;that&nbsp;a greater perception of&nbsp;the&nbsp;severity and&nbsp;the&nbsp;susceptibility of contracting the virus&nbsp;has&nbsp;positive effect on social norms for taking preventive measures.</p>