Attitudes toward the pandemic and Covid-19 vaccination intention among German university students and the general population

Results from two cross-sectional surveys

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22070260
AutoresSabrina Baldofski (0000-0003-3175-7914, Leipzig University), Ezgi Dogan-Sander (0000-0003-0148-2163, Leipzig University), Sophia E Mueller (Leipzig University), Freia De Bock (0000-0002-7089-8106, Düsseldorf University Hospital), Lena Huebl (0000-0002-2822-7202, Universität Hamburg), Elisabeth Kohls (0000-0001-9093-6547, Leipzig University), Christine Rummel-Kluge (0000-0003-4857-8170, Leipzig University, autor correspondente)
Ano2022
Volume10
Páginas1098911-1098911
Data de publicação2022-12-15
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
EditoraFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.1098911
PMID36589983
OpenAlexW4311510827
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas41

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on nearly all people. Vaccines provide an effective tool to combat the pandemic, however, vaccination hesitancy remains an issue. This study aims to investigate (a) students' attitudes toward the pandemic, (b) potential differences in attitudes between university students and the general population, and (c) to examine predictors of vaccination intention in both samples. Methods In this cross-sectional study data from two research projects were analyzed and compared. First, attitudes toward the COVID-19 pandemic in German university students were assessed within a cross-sectional anonymous online survey (March-April 2021, N = 5,639) and analyzed quantitatively and also qualitatively (free text field answers examined positive and negative aspects of the pandemic). Second, data from a cross-sectional survey within the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring project (COSMO; 29 th wave of data collection, December 2020, N = 1,387) in the German general population was analyzed. Both samples, were compared in sharedly used variables, regarding attitudes toward the pandemic and vaccination intention, and factors associated with vaccination (logistic regression analyses). Results In comparison to the general population, university students were significantly more likely to report being worried about/thinking about the coronavirus and to perceive the coronavirus as overrepresented in the media (all p < 0.001). University students reported a more supportive attitude toward vaccinations in general (students: M = 4.57, SD = 0.85; general population: M = 3.92, SD = 1.27) and a significantly higher vaccination intention (students: n = 4,438, 78.7%; general population: n = 635, 47.7%) than the general population ( p < 0.001). Regression analyses revealed that in university students, vaccination intention was significantly predicted by not having children, a supporting attitude toward vaccinations in general, the belief that the coronavirus is overrepresented in the media, and less thinking about/worrying about the coronavirus (all p < 0.05). In the general population, vaccination intention was significantly associated with male gender, higher age, not having children, a supporting attitude toward vaccinations in general, and the belief that the coronavirus is overrepresented in the media ( p < 0.05). The qualitative analysis among university students revealed that the most frequently stated positive aspect of the pandemic was to be more flexible due to digitalization ( n = 1,301 statements, 22.2%) and the most frequently stated negative aspect was restriction in social life ( n = 3,572 statements, 24.2%). Conclusion The results indicate differences in the attitudes toward the pandemic between university students and the general population. In addition, differences regarding factors associated with vaccination intention were found in both samples. These results could be important to be considered when designing and targeting vaccination campaigns aiming at informing different population or age groups. Study registration DRKS00022424

Cross-sectional study · Disease · Environmental health · Family medicine · Geography · German · Logistic regression · Pandemic · Population · Sociology · Vaccination · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Demography · Medicine · Misinformation and Its Impacts · Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy · Immunology