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COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among College Students: A Theory-Based Analysis

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  • Manoj Sharma

    (Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA)

  • Robert E. Davis

    (Substance Use and Mental Health Laboratory, Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA)

  • Amanda H. Wilkerson

    (Department of Human Environmental Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA)

Abstract

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 < 0.001), participatory dialogue ( b = 0.056, p < 0.001), and changes in the physical environment ( 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 < 0.001) was significant along with Republican Party political affiliation ( 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Manoj Sharma & Robert E. Davis & Amanda H. Wilkerson, 2021. "COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among College Students: A Theory-Based Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4617-:d:544079
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Manoj Sharma & Erin Largo-Wight & Amar Kanekar & Hana Kusumoto & Stephanie Hooper & Vinayak K. Nahar, 2020. "Using the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change to Explain Intentional Outdoor Nature Contact Behavior among College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Latkin, Carl A. & Dayton, Lauren & Yi, Grace & Konstantopoulos, Arianna & Boodram, Basmattee, 2021. "Trust in a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.: A social-ecological perspective," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Victoria Zhang & Peiyao Zhu & Abram L. Wagner, 2023. "Spillover of Vaccine Hesitancy into Adult COVID-19 and Influenza: The Role of Race, Religion, and Political Affiliation in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Manoj Sharma & Kavita Batra & Ravi Batra & Chia-Liang Dai & Traci Hayes & Melinda J. Ickes & Tejinder Pal Singh, 2022. "Assessing the Testability of the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) in Predicting Vaping Quitting Behavior among Young Adults in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-19, September.
    3. Jaeyoung Lim & Kuk-Kyoung Moon, 2023. "Political Ideology and Trust in Government to Ensure Vaccine Safety: Using a U.S. Survey to Explore the Role of Political Trust," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, March.
    4. Zélia Caçador Anastácio & Thayná Champe Da Silva & Celeste Meirinho Antão & Andrea Stopiglia Guedes Braide & Iara Denise Endruweit Battisti & Graça S. Carvalho, 2022. "Influence of Human Biology and Health (HBH) Teaching–Learning Process on Students’ Conceptions of the COVID-19 Vaccine," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Noelia Rodríguez-Blanco & Nancy Vicente-Alcalde & Laura Cubero-Plazas & Jesús Sánchez-Más & Emilia Montagud & Raul Moragues & Eva Gabaldón-Bravo & Jose Antonio Hurtado-Sanchez & José Tuells, 2022. "Acceptability of the Vaccine against COVID-19 in Spanish Health Sciences Students: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-13, September.
    6. Julia Dratva & Aylin Wagner & Annina Zysset & Thomas Volken, 2021. "To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate—This Is the Question among Swiss University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-13, August.
    7. Wei Zhang & Ying Jin & Ningning Liu & Zhenzhen Xiang & Xiaojuan Wang & Ping Xu & Pingping Guo & Minna Mao & Suwen Feng, 2022. "Predicting Physical Activity in Chinese Pregnant Women Using Multi-Theory Model: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-12, October.

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