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Predicting COVID-19 vaccination intention using protection motivation theory and conspiracy beliefs.
Vaccine. 2021 10 08; 39(42):6269-6275.V

Abstract

BACKGROUND

While COVID-19 vaccine uptake has been encouraging overall, some individuals are either hesitant towards, or refuse, the vaccine. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) has been applied to influenza vaccine acceptance, but there is a lack of research applying PMT to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Additionally, prior research has suggested that coronavirus conspiracy beliefs and demographic factors may play a role in attitudes towards the vaccine. This study aimed to predict COVID-19 vaccination intention using PMT, coronavirus conspiracy beliefs, and demographic factors. Furthermore, vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals were compared in relation to their coronavirus conspiracy beliefs.

METHODS

An online survey was administered to 382 (278 vaccinated, and 104 unvaccinated) individuals in the United Kingdom (77 males, 301 females, one non-binary/third gender, and three unstated). Respondents' mean age was 43.78 (SD = 12.58).

RESULTS

A hierarchical multiple linear regression was performed in three stages. Initially, four PMT constructs - severity, susceptibility, maladaptive response costs, and self-efficacy - emerged as significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccination intention. The final model accounted for 75% of the variance and retained two significant predictors from PMT - maladaptive response rewards and self-efficacy - alongside coronavirus conspiracy beliefs and age. An independent t-test established that unvaccinated individuals held greater coronavirus conspiracy beliefs than vaccinated ones.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions and campaigns addressing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance should employ strategies increasing individuals' perceived severity of COVID-19, perceived susceptibility, and perceived ability to get vaccinated, while decreasing perceived rewards of not getting vaccinated. Additionally, coronavirus conspiracy beliefs should be addressed, as these appear to play a role for some vaccine-hesitant individuals.

Links

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Eberhardt J
Teesside University, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law, Borough Road, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: j.eberhardt@tees.ac.uk.
Ling J
University of Sunderland, Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing, Chester Road, Sunderland SR1 3SD, United Kingdom.

MeSH

AdultCOVID-19COVID-19 VaccinesHumansIntentionMotivationSARS-CoV-2Vaccination

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

34535313

Citation

Eberhardt, Judith, and Jonathan Ling. "Predicting COVID-19 Vaccination Intention Using Protection Motivation Theory and Conspiracy Beliefs." Vaccine, vol. 39, no. 42, 2021, pp. 6269-6275.
Eberhardt J, Ling J. Predicting COVID-19 vaccination intention using protection motivation theory and conspiracy beliefs. Vaccine. 2021;39(42):6269-6275.
Eberhardt, J., & Ling, J. (2021). Predicting COVID-19 vaccination intention using protection motivation theory and conspiracy beliefs. Vaccine, 39(42), 6269-6275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.09.010
Eberhardt J, Ling J. Predicting COVID-19 Vaccination Intention Using Protection Motivation Theory and Conspiracy Beliefs. Vaccine. 2021 10 8;39(42):6269-6275. PubMed PMID: 34535313.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Predicting COVID-19 vaccination intention using protection motivation theory and conspiracy beliefs. AU - Eberhardt,Judith, AU - Ling,Jonathan, Y1 - 2021/09/07/ PY - 2021/06/03/received PY - 2021/08/18/revised PY - 2021/09/03/accepted PY - 2021/9/19/pubmed PY - 2021/10/9/medline PY - 2021/9/18/entrez KW - COVID-19 KW - Conspiracy theories KW - Protection Motivation Theory KW - Vaccination hesitancy SP - 6269 EP - 6275 JF - Vaccine JO - Vaccine VL - 39 IS - 42 N2 - BACKGROUND: While COVID-19 vaccine uptake has been encouraging overall, some individuals are either hesitant towards, or refuse, the vaccine. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) has been applied to influenza vaccine acceptance, but there is a lack of research applying PMT to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Additionally, prior research has suggested that coronavirus conspiracy beliefs and demographic factors may play a role in attitudes towards the vaccine. This study aimed to predict COVID-19 vaccination intention using PMT, coronavirus conspiracy beliefs, and demographic factors. Furthermore, vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals were compared in relation to their coronavirus conspiracy beliefs. METHODS: An online survey was administered to 382 (278 vaccinated, and 104 unvaccinated) individuals in the United Kingdom (77 males, 301 females, one non-binary/third gender, and three unstated). Respondents' mean age was 43.78 (SD = 12.58). RESULTS: A hierarchical multiple linear regression was performed in three stages. Initially, four PMT constructs - severity, susceptibility, maladaptive response costs, and self-efficacy - emerged as significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccination intention. The final model accounted for 75% of the variance and retained two significant predictors from PMT - maladaptive response rewards and self-efficacy - alongside coronavirus conspiracy beliefs and age. An independent t-test established that unvaccinated individuals held greater coronavirus conspiracy beliefs than vaccinated ones. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions and campaigns addressing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance should employ strategies increasing individuals' perceived severity of COVID-19, perceived susceptibility, and perceived ability to get vaccinated, while decreasing perceived rewards of not getting vaccinated. Additionally, coronavirus conspiracy beliefs should be addressed, as these appear to play a role for some vaccine-hesitant individuals. SN - 1873-2518 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/34535313/Predicting_COVID_19_vaccination_intention_using_protection_motivation_theory_and_conspiracy_beliefs_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -