How Risk Perception Impacts Cervical Cancer Knowledge Acquisition in China: From an Adapted Cognitive Mediation Model Perspective

Abstract

As a result of the relatively late implementation of HPV vaccination in China, many young Chinese women have weak awareness and limited knowledge about cervical cancer. This study developed an adapted cognitive mediation model with risk perception as a key factor that prompts serial mediation effects and ultimately influences cervical cancer knowledge acquisition. An online survey was conducted among 1066 Chinese women aged 15-35. The results were analyzed for three age groups, which mostly supported the hypothesized model. Risk perception was positively correlated with elaboration and cervical cancer knowledge acquisition, but only with attention to cervical cancer-related information among participants aged 20-35. Attention to cervical cancer-related information was positively associated with elaboration while having no significant correlation with knowledge acquisition. Elaboration was positively associated with knowledge acquisition. Indirect effects between risk perception and knowledge acquisition through elaboration were found. The impact of risk perception on knowledge acquisition was also sequentially mediated by attention and elaboration among participants aged 28-35. The results indicate a general tendency that an individual’s level of risk perception, attention to cervical cancer-related information, elaborative processing of information, and the amount of knowledge gained increase with age. Adolescents aged 15-19 particularly lack risk perception and attention to health information. The implications of the results are discussed in detail based on previous studies. Research limitations and future directions are also suggested.