Parents' COVID-19, HPV, and Monkeypox vaccination intention: A multilevel structural equation model of risk, benefit, barrier, and efficacy perceptions and individual characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to comparatively examine parents' intention to vaccinate their children for three infectious diseases, including COVID-19, HPV, and monkeypox. METHODS: Utilizing a mixed-design survey and multilevel structural equation models, we investigated if perception of the diseases and vaccines explained the variance in parents' vaccine-specific decision-making and population difference in vaccination intention. RESULTS: Compared with the COVID-19 vaccine, parents were more willing to get an HPV vaccine for their children due to greater perceived benefit and lower perceived barrier. Concerns about vaccine safety and lower disease risk perception were associated with lower intention to get a monkeypox vaccine. Parents of color, less educated, and lower-income parents were less willing to get vaccines for their children due to low benefit perception and high perceived barriers. CONCLUSION: Parents were motivated by different social and psychological factors when deciding whether to get a COVID-19, HPV, and monkeypox vaccine for their children. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Vaccine promotion should be tailored to the characteristics of the target population and the vaccines. Underprivileged communities may be better approached with information about vaccine benefit and barriers, and vaccines for unfamiliar diseases may be better communicated with disease risk information.

Risk-efficacy framework - a new perspective on threat and efficacy appraisal and the role of disparity.

The current study aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of threat and efficacy appraisal and account for the influence of disparity in the accessibility to risk prevention resources in predicting attitudes and behaviors. We propose a Risk-Efficacy Framework by integrating theories, including the extended parallel process model, health belief model, social cognitive theory, and construal level theory of psychological distance to achieve such a goal. An online survey targeting the U.S. population was conducted to empirically test the model (N = 729). The survey measured people's threat and efficacy appraisals related to COVID-19 and its vaccines and their attitudes and behavioral intention. The results of the survey supported the model's propositions. Specifically, perceived susceptibility moderated perceived severity's effects on attitudes and behaviors, such that perceived severity's influence attenuated as perceived susceptibility increased. Perceived accessibility to risk prevention resources moderated the influence of self and response efficacy. The former's effects on attitudes and behaviors increased, and the latter's effects decreased when perceived accessibility was high. The proposed framework provides a new perspective to examine the psychological determinants of prevention adoption and contributes to designing and implementing campaigns distributing prevention to underserved populations. The framework offers insights for risk managers such as public health authorities by articulating the dynamic nature of risks. When communicating early-stage lesser-known risks to the public, campaigns should highlight their severity and the response efficacy of risk solutions. Differently, more resources should be devoted to cultivating self-efficacy for widespread risks with more mitigation resources.

Acculturation, Bilateral Hostility, and Psychological Wellbeing of U.S.-dwelling Chinese during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked hostility against Chinese immigrants and sojourners in the U.S. and other countries. Making the situation worse, strong resentment against this group has also emerged in China due to the fear of returnees spreading the disease. Integrating research on acculturation and hostile media perception, we examined how such bilateral hostility along with different acculturation components (i.e., cultural identification, COVID-19-related media use, and individualistic-collectivistic value) influenced U.S.-dwelling Chinese's psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the results from a two-wave survey assessing the cultural identity and value, COVID-19-related media use, and psychological distress of a group of relatively young and highly educated U.S.-dwelling Chinese (N = 1,256) between March and April 2020, we found that identification with both U.S. and Chinese cultures alleviated immigrants and sojourners' psychological distress. Further, COVID-19-related media use served as a stressor during the pandemic, and perceived hostility from China led to stronger psychological distress among U.S.-dwelling Chinese.

The Search Between Two Worlds: Motivations for and Consequences of U.S.-Dwelling Chinese's Use of U.S. and Chinese Media for COVID-19 Information.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to inflict damage throughout the world, some minority groups are bearing a disproportionate share of its impacts. We concentrated on one such group, U.S.-dwelling Chinese, who have had to cope with challenges related to acculturation, health, safety, and racism. Recognizing that health information seeking was an essential step in helping maintain and improve health behaviors, we conducted a two-wave longitudinal study (N = 1,284) to examine the various factors predicting U.S.-dwelling Chinese's use of U.S. and Chinese media for COVID-19 information as well as the consequences of their information seeking. Overall, we found that acculturation, accuracy (i.e., information insufficiency) and defense (i.e., conspiratorial beliefs) motivations, trust in media, and perceived information gathering capacity played a key role in explaining information seeking from an intercultural viewpoint, and that the use of U.S. and Chinese media was associated with different health behaviors. These findings contribute to theory and practice in a variety of ways.

Examining the direct and indirect effects of trust in motivating COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate how trust in healthcare providers, public health agencies, politicians, and pharmaceutical companies shaped people's attitudes and behavioral intention associated with COVID-19 vaccination, directly and indirectly via the mediation of vaccine evaluation and emotions. METHODS: A two-wave longitudinal survey (N = 534) was employed in late 2020 and early 2021 to assess the direct and indirect relationships between trust on people's attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine, vaccination intention, and actual vaccine uptake. RESULTS: Results show that trust was positively associated with attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination intention, both directly and indirectly via the mediation of vaccine evaluation, hope, and anger. Vaccination intention also mediated trust's influence on vaccine uptake. CONCLUSION: Trust in health providers, vaccine manufacturers, and public health agencies are vital to public acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Healthcare providers and vaccine manufacturers may serve as the most effective source to communicate COVID-19 vaccine-related information. Trusted health communicators need to highlight the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine while maintaining a positive tone.

Vaccine for yourself, your community, or your country? Examining audiences' response to distance framing of COVID-19 vaccine messages.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the effects of COVID-19 vaccine promotion messages highlighting the benefit at individual, community, and country levels. Based on the cultural theory of risks, we investigated how individuals' valuation of individualism vs. communitarianism and hierarchical vs. egalitarian social structure affect their responses to vaccine messages. METHODS: An online experiment (N = 702) with four video message conditions (individual-centered, community-centered, country-centered, and no message) was conducted. Participants were asked about their cultural cognition worldview, then were randomly assigned to view one message. Participants also reported their willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccines and support for vaccine mandate. RESULTS: Respondents were more likely to get vaccinated and support vaccine mandates after viewing an individual-centered message, less with a community-centered message. Individuals who value individualism were more likely to respond positively to individual-centered messages, but those who believe more in communitarianism value were less likely. CONCLUSION: Results showed that individuals are motivated selectively to respond to certain claims that cohere with their worldview and therefore respond differently to vaccine benefit frames. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results point to the importance of understanding audiences' worldviews. By identifying this process through hierarchical and individualistic values, properly designed health promotion messages can maximize the desired outcomes.

Light at the end of the tunnel: Influence of vaccine availability and vaccination intention on people's consideration of the COVID-19 vaccine.

RATIONALE: Countries worldwide rely on the COVID-19 vaccine to contain the spread of the pandemic. However, because of the inequality in distribution, people in many demographic groups and regions still do not have access to a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. OBJECTIVE: To aid vaccine promotion campaigns that target populations with different access to the COVID-19 vaccine, this study examined how vaccine availability and vaccination intention influence people's consideration of the COVID-19 vaccine. METHOD: We conducted a two-wave longitudinal survey and choice-based conjoint experiment to examine the influence of vaccine availability and vaccination intention on perceived barriers of vaccination (e.g., safety and cost concern) and preference in different vaccine features (e.g., FDA approval status and number of doses administered). RESULT: We found that low availability and intention increased attention to global behavioral barriers such as safety concern and high-level vaccine attributes such as efficacy. In contrast, high availability articulates practical considerations such as cost and logistics associated with vaccination. CONCLUSION: Based on such findings, we conclude that health communicators need to strategically customize their messages based on audience access to the COVID-19 vaccine and their intention to get vaccinated. Highlighting the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine may be more effective in low-accessibility and low-intention groups, while emphasis on practical considerations such as vaccine cost and logistics may be more effective in high-accessibility and high-intention groups.

Not My Pandemic: Solution Aversion and the Polarized Public Perception of COVID-19

Applying the solution aversion model in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we examine how ideology and support for free markets influence Americans? assessment of COVID-19 risks and support for mitigation policies. Results from an experiment (N = 438) indicate that conservatives are more likely to dismiss the risks of COVID-19 when governmental regulations are highlighted. In contrast, liberals are less likely to support Emergency Use Authorization of COVID-19 vaccines when market-oriented solutions are highlighted. Findings from this study suggest that in addition to party elite cues, polarization in public opinions on the pandemic may also stem from solution aversion.

Experience, experts, statistics, or just science? Predictors and consequences of reliance on different evidence types during the COVID-19 infodemic.

As an unprecedented global disease outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic is also accompanied by an infodemic. To better cope with the pandemic, laypeople need to process information in ways that help guide informed judgments and decisions. Such information processing likely involves the reliance on various evidence types. Extending the Risk Information Seeking and Processing model via a two-wave survey (N = 1284), we examined the predictors and consequences of US-dwelling Chinese's reliance on four evidence types (i.e. scientific, statistical, experiential, and expert) regarding COVID-19 information. Overall, Risk Information Seeking and Processing variables such as information insufficiency and perceived information gathering capacity predicted the use of all four evidence types. However, other Risk Information Seeking and Processing variables (e.g. informational subjective norms) did not emerge as important predictors. In addition, different evidence types had different associations with subsequent disease prevention behaviors and satisfaction with the US government's action to address the pandemic. Finally, discrete emotions varied in their influences on the use of evidence types, behaviors, and satisfaction. The findings provide potentially valuable contributions to science and health communication theory and practice.

Integrating health behavior theories to predict American's intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

OBJECTIVE: Integrating constructs from three prominent health behavior theories including the extended parallel process model, the health belief model, and the theory of planned behavior, this study seeks to identify sociopsychological factors that influenced American's intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. METHOD: An online survey was delivered to a U.S. sample (N = 934), assessing the influences of risk perception and fear associated with COVID-19, beliefs about and attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccines, self-efficacy, social and psychological contexts, and demographic characteristics on people's intention to get COVID-19 vaccines. RESULTS: Most respondents intended to get vaccinated. However, they tended to underestimate their risks of contracting COVID-19. Disease exposure led to higher uptake intent via the mediation of fear. Safety concerns negatively influenced vaccination intention, while perceived community benefits were positively associated with vaccination intention. Positive attitudes toward vaccines and recent vaccine history were positively linked to vaccination intent. CONCLUSION: This study attests the effectiveness of HBT constructs in predicting people's intention to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results point to the importance of fostering confidence in vaccine safety and countering overoptimism of individual susceptibility to the disease in interventions promoting COVID-19 vaccines uptake.

Call them COVIDiots: Exploring the effects of aggressive communication style and psychological distance in the communication of COVID-19.

This study examined the influences of perceived distance to communicator on the effects of aggressive style (i.e. personal attacks and intense languages) in communicating scientific issues such as COVID-19 to the public. With a multi-site experiment (N = 464), we found that aggression led to a heightened violation of expected social norm regarding communication styles. However, the interpretation of violation varied depending on the individual's perceived distance to the communicator. Close distance articulated the urgency and severity of COVID-19 risks conveyed with aggression, which further increased compliance with the message. Far distance perception amplified aggression's negative influence on writer likeability. The findings showed that aggressive communication may generate positive outcomes when dealing with public understanding of scientific issues such as COVID-19, but communicators need to build a closer connection with their audience.