Arango, Marcela Ordorica; Bizyaeva, Anastasia; Levin, Simon A.; Leonard, Naomi Ehrich Opinion-driven risk perception and reaction in SIS epidemics Proceedings Article In: American Control Conference (ACC), 2025. Links | BibTeX Opinion-driven risk perception and reaction in SIS epidemics Abstract: We present and analyze a mathematical model to study the feedback between behavior and epidemic spread in a population that is actively assessing and reacting to risk of infection. Opinion-driven risk perception and reaction in SIS epidemics. In 2025 American Control Conference, ACC 2025, Denver, CO, USA, July 8-10, 2025. pages 4998-5003, IEEE, 2025. [doi] We consider SIS epidemic dynamics in which the contact rate within a population adapts as a function of its opinion. For the new coupled model, we prove the existence of two distinct parameter regimes. One regime corresponds to a low baseline infectiousness, and the equilibria of the epidemic spread are identical to those of the standard SIS model. Figure 3: Initial opinion towards the risk seeking or aversion strategy is reinforced in a population with high peer pressure, and the sign of initial opinions are determinant of the infection levels at steady state. We consider SIS epidemic dynamics in which the contact rate within a population adapts as a function of its opinion. For the new coupled model, we prove the existence of two distinct parameter regimes. One regime corresponds to a low baseline infectiousness, and the equilibria of the epidemic spread are identical to those of the standard SIS model. Abstract and Figures We present and analyze a mathematical model to study the feedback between behavior and epidemic spread in a population that is actively assessing and reacting to risk of. We present and analyze a mathematical model to study the feedback between behavior and epidemic spread in a population that is actively assessing and reacting to risk of infection. In our model, a population dynamically forms an opinion that reflects its willingness to engage in risky behavior (e.g., not wearing a mask in a crowded area) or reduce it (e.g., social distancing). We consider SIS. This paper presents a mathematical model to study the feedback between behavior and epidemic spread, showing how opinion dynamics influence risk perception and reaction in SIS epidemics. We present and analyze a mathematical model to study the feedback between behavior and epidemic spread in a population that is actively assessing and reacting to risk of infection. In our model, a population dynamically forms an opinion that reflects its willingness to engage in risky behavior (e.g., not wearing a mask in a crowded area) or reduce it (e.g., social distancing). We consider SIS.