Motivation to Have COVID-19 Vaccination Explained Using an Extended Protection Motivation Theory among University Students in China: The Role of Information Sources

Abstract

Background: The aims of the present study were to examine the prediction of the threat and coping appraisal utilizing an extended protection motivation theory (PMT) for the motivation to have COVID-19 vaccination and the influence of various information sources on coping appraisal among university students in China. Methods: The sample comprised 3145 students from 43 universities in China who completed an online survey including PMT constructs as well as constructs added to PMT. The PMT constructs comprised motivation to have COVID-19 vaccination, threat appraisal, and coping appraisal. The extended PMT constructs comprised knowledge about mechanisms and information sources of COVID-19 vaccination. Results: Perceived severity of COVID-19 was positively associated with motivation to have COVID-19 vaccination. Receiving information concerning COVID-19 vaccination from medical personnel was associated with greater self-efficacy, response efficacy, and knowledge, whereas receiving information concerning COVID-19 vaccination from coworkers/colleagues was associated with less response efficacy and knowledge. Receiving online information concerning COVID-19 vaccination was associated with greater response cost of vaccination efficacy and less knowledge. Conclusions: This study supported the prediction of perceived severity in the PMT for motivation to have COVID-19 vaccination among university students in China. Vaccination information sources have different effects on students’ coping appraisal of COVID-19 vaccination.

Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Public Health and Preventive Medicine Students in Vietnam

“…A previous study revealed that the availability of vaccination information might affect students’ coping strategies. 44 Therefore, further studies and interventions are needed, especially in the presence of an effective vaccine. Second, our study was conducted at one university in a single city which may limit the generalization of the findings.…”

Comparisons of Motivation to Receive COVID-19 Vaccination and Related Factors between Frontline Physicians and Nurses and the Public in Taiwan: Applying the Extended Protection Motivation Theory

“…Second, perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, and response cost of COVID-19 vaccination were positively associated with motivation to receive COVID-19 vaccination among the public but not among frontline HCWs. A study also found that perceived severity of COVID-19 was positively associated with motivation to receive COVID-19 vaccination among university students in China [36], indicating that increasing individuals' threat appraisal of COVID-19 may be an effective method of increasing motivation to receive a COVID-19 vaccination for non-HCWs. Programs promoting COVID-19 vaccination for the public can use narrative communication as a tool (e.g., inviting the patients to convey the severity of contracting COVID-19) [40].…”

“…Although the factors examined in these studies are included in the threat and coping appraisals of PMT, no study has examined the comprehensive PMT constructs that relate to frontline HCW motivation to receive COVID-19 vaccination. A study applying PMT found that threat appraisal but not coping appraisal predicted motivation to receive COVID-19 vaccination among university students in China [36]. Given that frontline HCWs face a direct threat from COVID-19, it is reasonable to hypothesize that frontline HCWs have a higher level of motivation to receive COVID-19 vaccination than members of the public do.…”

“…The level of motivation to receive COVID-19 vaccination was assessed using one item: "Please rate your current willingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine: 1 (very low) to 10 (very high)" [36] (Table 1).…”

The Intention to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine in China: Insights from Protection Motivation Theory

“…There has been a small number of COVID-19 PMT studies, including 734 healthcare workers in Iran [ 25 ], 649 Filipinos answering an online questionnaire [ 26 ], and 3145 students from 43 universities in China [ 27 ]. The online survey of Chinese students found that the perceived severity of COVID-19 was positively associated with motivation to have COVID-19 vaccination and receiving COVID-19 information from medical personnel was associated with greater self-efficacy, response efficacy, and knowledge, whereas receiving information concerning COVID-19 vaccination from coworkers/colleagues was associated with less response efficacy and knowledge.…”