Trust in Science as a Possible Mediator between Different Antecedents and COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Intention: An Integration of Health Belief Model (HBM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)

Abstract

As the literature highlights, many health behavior theories try to explain both social and psychological variables influencing an individual’s health behavior. This study integrates insights relative to the antecedents of getting vaccinated from health behavior theories, particularly including the health belief model (HBM), the theory of planned behavior (TPB), and the different socio-demographic factors. Furthermore, we considered the possible mechanism of impact of distrust in science on individuals’ hesitance and resistance to taking up SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in subjects living in Italy. A correlational study of 1095 subjects enrolled when the national vaccination campaign for the third dose was launched. A questionnaire was used to measure: Italian Risk Perception; subjective norm; trust in science, trust in the vaccine; fear of COVID-19; fear of the vaccine; perceived knowledge about SARS-CoV-2; booster vaccination intention. Principal results show that: (i) the positive relationship provided by HBM theory between perceptions of SARS-CoV-2 risk (vulnerability and severity) and intention to have the vaccine, through fear of COVID-19; (ii) the positive relationship between subjective norms and both trust in science and vaccination intention; (iii) that trust in science plays a crucial role in predicting vaccination intention. Finally, the results provided indications about a positive relationship between subjective norms and fear of COVID-19, and a full mediation role of trust in science in the relationships between determinants of both TPA and HBM, fear of COVID-19, and vaccination intention. In conclusion, an individual’s intention (not) to get vaccinated requires the consideration of a plethora of socio-psychological factors. However, overall, trust in science appears to be a key determinant of vaccination intention. Additional strategies promoting healthy behavior are needed.

Perceptions of COVID-19 Vaccines: Protective Shields or Threatening Risks? A Descriptive Exploratory Study among the Italian Population

“…The ‘progress’ theme emerged from 6% of answers related to trust in scientific research and science (e.g., ‘evolution’). Interestingly, all individuals included in this category were vaccinated against COVID-19, confirming the results by Barattucci and colleagues (2012) [ 36 ]. Thus, the authors have shown that trust in science plays a crucial role in predicting vaccination intention, mediating the relationship between individual factors (i.e., fear of COVID-19, and subjective norms) and vaccination intention [ 36 ].…”

Behind the Scenes of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Psychological Predictors in an Italian Community Sample

“…Moreover, meticulous calculations may take time, delaying vaccine uptake. Clear, sound (e.g., coherent, and not contradictory), concise, and honest vaccine-related communications may favor solid knowledge and quick, efficient decisions; also, this manner of communicating may favor individuals’ trust in science, which has been recently reported to be a crucial mediator of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance [ 42 ].…”

How older adults’ health beliefs affect intention to perform COVID-19 self-examination: A reasoned action approach

“…to PCO (H10), leading us to believe that personal 839 studies to investigate the impact of health beliefs 840 on older adults' reasoned actions [77,83]. The…”