Covid-19 Vaccine Acceptance among College Students

A Theory-Based Analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID15465844
AuthorsManoj Sharma (0000-0002-5310-0748), Maneesh Pandeya (0000-0002-4624-2414, University of Nevada, Las Vegas), Robert E Davis (0000-0003-4615-3101, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville), Amanda H Wilkerson (0000-0002-5116-9012, University of Alabama, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue9
Pages4617-4617
Publication date2021-04-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18094617
PMID33925327
OpenAlexW3159093711
LanguageEN
Citations received19
References cited20

The severity and pervasiveness of the COVID-19 pandemic have necessitated the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines. Three vaccines have been approved in the United States (USA). However, there is still some hesitancy in COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among some subgroups, including college students. While research is limited on vaccine acceptability behavior among college students, preliminary data suggests hesitancy as being high. This study aimed to explain the correlates of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among college students who reported hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine and those who did not using the initiation component of the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change. Using a cross-sectional study design, data were collected from a Southern USA University ( n = 282) utilizing a valid and reliable 27-item questionnaire in February and March 2021. Almost half (47.5%) of participants reported hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The three constructs of MTM's initiation model, behavioral confidence ( b = 0.089, p b = 0.056, p b = 0.066, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among those who were not hesitant to take the vaccine and accounted for 54.8% of the variance. Among those who were hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine, the MTM construct of behavioral confidence ( b = 0.022, p b = -0.464, p = 0.004), which was negatively associated with vaccine acceptance. The model accounted for 60.6% of the variance in intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine. This study provides evidence for the utility of MTM as a timely intervention to design messages for college students to enhance COVID-19 vaccine acceptability

Confidence interval · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Disease · Family medicine · Pandemic · Sociology · COVID-19 epidemiological studies · Demography · Medicine · Psychology · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Internal Medicine