TY - JOUR
T1 - Behavioral, cognitive and emotional determinants of getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and the mediating role of institutional trust among young adults in Cyprus
AU - Konstantinou, Pinelopi
AU - Kyprianidou, Maria
AU - Christodoulou, Andria
AU - McHugh, Louise
AU - Constantinou, Marios
AU - Epiphaniou, Eleni
AU - Vahey, Nigel
AU - Nicolaou, Christiana
AU - Middleton, Nicos
AU - Karekla, Maria
AU - Kassianos, Angelos P.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Background: Vaccination uptake is a complex behavior, influenced by numerous factors. Behavioral science theories are commonly used to explain the psychosocial determinants of an individual’s health behavior. This study examined the behavioural, cognitive, and emotional determinants of COVID-19 vaccination intention based on well-established theoretical models: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour (COM-B) and the Health Belief Model (HBM). Additionally, it examined the mediating role of institutional trust in the relationship between determinants of these models and vaccination intentions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2022, where university students in Cyprus completed an online survey. Results: A total of 484 university students completed the online survey, with 23.8% reporting being vaccinated with fewer than three vaccination doses and/or no intention to vaccinate further. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis showed that higher scores in institutional trust, perceived severity, motivation, physical and psychological capability were significantly associated with higher odds of intending to vaccinate. Higher psychological flexibility and not being infected with COVID-19 were also associated with higher odds of vaccination intention, but not in the final model when all determinants were included. Additionally, significant indirect effects of psychological and physical capability, motivation and perceived severity on vaccination intention were found to be mediated by institutional trust. Conclusions: When tackling COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy, behavioural, cognitive, and emotional aspects should be considered. Stakeholders and policymakers are advised to implement targeted vaccination programs in young people while at the same time building trust and improving their capabilities and motivation towards getting vaccinated.
AB - Background: Vaccination uptake is a complex behavior, influenced by numerous factors. Behavioral science theories are commonly used to explain the psychosocial determinants of an individual’s health behavior. This study examined the behavioural, cognitive, and emotional determinants of COVID-19 vaccination intention based on well-established theoretical models: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour (COM-B) and the Health Belief Model (HBM). Additionally, it examined the mediating role of institutional trust in the relationship between determinants of these models and vaccination intentions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2022, where university students in Cyprus completed an online survey. Results: A total of 484 university students completed the online survey, with 23.8% reporting being vaccinated with fewer than three vaccination doses and/or no intention to vaccinate further. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis showed that higher scores in institutional trust, perceived severity, motivation, physical and psychological capability were significantly associated with higher odds of intending to vaccinate. Higher psychological flexibility and not being infected with COVID-19 were also associated with higher odds of vaccination intention, but not in the final model when all determinants were included. Additionally, significant indirect effects of psychological and physical capability, motivation and perceived severity on vaccination intention were found to be mediated by institutional trust. Conclusions: When tackling COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy, behavioural, cognitive, and emotional aspects should be considered. Stakeholders and policymakers are advised to implement targeted vaccination programs in young people while at the same time building trust and improving their capabilities and motivation towards getting vaccinated.
KW - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
KW - COM-B model
KW - COVID-19
KW - Health Belief Model
KW - Vaccination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85202621543&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-024-19859-y
DO - 10.1186/s12889-024-19859-y
M3 - Article
C2 - 39198798
AN - SCOPUS:85202621543
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 24
JO - BMC Public Health
JF - BMC Public Health
IS - 1
M1 - 2336
ER -