THE CONTENT OF COVID-19 INFORMATION SEARCHES AND VACCINATION INTENTION: AN IMPLICATION FOR RISK COMMUNICATION.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to examine the association between COVID-19 information search activities and vaccination intention. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected using online surveys. Independent variables included COVID-19 information search on the 1) science of viral effects of COVID-19 on the body, 2) origin of COVID-19, 3) symptoms and outcomes, 4) transmission & prevention, 5) future outbreak, and 6) policies/procedures to follow. The outcome variable was vaccination intention. Multivariable regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Participants (N= 501) had a mean age of 32.44±11.94 years, were 55.3% female, and 67.9% White. Most COVID-19 information search was on symptoms and outcomes (77.7%), and policies/procedures to follow (69.9%). Intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 was higher among participants who searched for information on the science of viral effects of COVID-19 on the body (ß=0.23, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI)= 0.03-0.43; p=0.03) and policies/procedures to follow (ß =0.24, 0.03-0.41, p= 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: People who searched for information about 1) the science of viral effects of COVID-19 and 2) policies/procedures recommendations also reported higher vaccination intention. Risk communication seeking to increase vaccination should meet the consumer's information demand by prioritizing the scientific rationale for COVID-19 vaccination and clarifying what policies/procedures are recommended.

Disentangling the Role of Religiosity in Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic.

Religion is a complex and sociocultural driver of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination decisions, but its exact role has been mixed/unclear. We used a cross-sectional study of 342 Christian parents to examine the associations between the three domains of religiosity (organizational, non-organizational, and intrinsic) and the intention to (i) seek HPV information and (ii) receive the HPV vaccine. Organizational religiosity was the only domain that was positively associated with information-seeking intention regardless of the type of covariates included. Mixed findings in the association between religiosity and HPV vaccination decisions may depend on the religiosity domain being assessed.

Shared Determinants for Human Papillomavirus and COVID-19 Vaccination Intention: An Opportunity for Resource Consolidation.

PURPOSE: This study aimed at targeting shared factors that influence the prevention of multiple diseases, which can help address various health problems simultaneously. We identified correlates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination that overlap with COVID-19 vaccination. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey data. SETTING: Online Qualtrics recruitment panel. SUBJECT: Religious parents of 342 adolescents who were unvaccinated for HPV (response rate was 68.1%). MEASURES: Outcome variables were COVID-19 vaccination intention for (1) self, (2) child, and (3) HPV vaccination intention for child. Independent variables were psychological factors. Covariates were sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors. ANALYSIS: We conducted multivariate linear regressions on each outcome variable after controlling for covariates. RESULT: Some psychological correlates of HPV overlapped as protective factors for all three outcomes. Higher perceived vulnerability of child to HPV was associated with higher vaccination intention against COVID-19 for self (ß = .37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .25-.48), child (ß = .32, .21-.44), and HPV for child (ß = .38, .27-.49). Higher perceived response efficacy of HPV vaccine was associated with greater vaccination intention against COVID-19 for self (ß = .46, .33-.59), child (ß = .41, .28-.53), and HPV for child (ß = .75, .64-.85). CONCLUSION: Given the overlap in HPV and COVID-19 vaccination correlates, interventions should target shared factors that address both diseases to maximize public health efforts. A major limitation of this study is the inability to measure the actual vaccination behavior.

Psychological Pathways Linking Public Trust During the Coronavirus Pandemic to Mental and Physical Well-being.

The well-being of the public during the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is deeply rooted in institutional trust in the government's risk communication effort. The objective of this study was to examine the psychological pathway through which public trust in the government is associated with mental and physical well-being. We collected cross-sectional data from 501 participants aged ≥18 years using an online panel. Public trust in the government was assessed as our exposure variable. We screened for psychological distress by combining the Patient Health Questionnaire and the General Anxiety Disorder scale. Physical well-being was examined using self-rated health. We further assessed the roles of risk perceptions. The author conducted a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson's correlations, multivariable regressions, and mediation analyses (using the Preachers and Hayes' approach). Participants were 55.29% female, 67.86% Caucasian/white with a mean age of 32.44 ± 11.94 years. Public trust in the government regarding COVID-19 was negatively correlated with psychological distress (r = -0.20; p < 0.001) and positively associated with physical well-being (r = 0.13; p < 0.001). After adjusting for sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, public trust remained negatively associated with psychological distress (ß = -0.19; 95% confidence intervals, [CI] -0.30, -0.09) and positively associated with physical well-being (ß = 0.26; 95% CI [0.16, -0.37]). Perceived self-efficacy to practice COVID-19 protective behavior partially mediated the relationship between public trust and psychological distress (13.07%); and physical well-being (28.02%). Perceived self-efficacy to protect self against COVID-19 infection can serve as a psychological pathway through which public trust may be associated with mental and physical health.

Intention to Vaccinate Against the Novel 2019 Coronavirus Disease: The Role of Health Locus of Control and Religiosity.

The urgency to develop a vaccine against the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) has waxed stronger in speed, scale, and scope. However, wisdom dictates that we take a vantage position and start to examine the demographic predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The objective of this study was to examine the role of health locus of control (HLOC) in the relationship between religiosity and COVID-19 vaccination intention. In a cross-sectional survey (N = 501), we found a significantly negative association between religiosity and COVID-19 vaccination intention. This relationship was partially mediated by external HLOC. Collaborative efforts with religious institutions may influence COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Exposure to coronavirus news on mainstream media: The role of risk perceptions and depression

OBJECTIVE: The mainstream media tend to rely on news content that will increase risk perceptions of pandemic outbreaks to stimulate public response and persuade people to comply with preventive behaviours. The objective of this study was to examine associations between exposure to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news, risk perceptions, and depressive symptoms. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected from 501 participants who were >/=18 years. Exposure to COVID-19 news was assessed as our exposure variable. We screened for depression (outcome variable) with the Patient Health Questionnaire and examined the roles of risk perceptions. Multiple linear regressions and mediation analysis with 1000 bootstrap resamples were conducted. RESULTS: Participants were 55.29% female, 67.86% White with mean age 32.44 +/- 11.94 years. After controlling for sociodemographic and socio-economic factors, news exposure was positively associated with depressive symptoms beta = .11;95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.02-0.20. Mediation analysis showed that perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 mediated 34.4% of this relationship (beta = .04;95%CI = 0.01-0.06). CONCLUSION: Perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 can serve as a pathway through which exposure to COVID-19 news on mainstream media may be associated with depressive symptoms. Based on our findings, we offered recommendations for media-health partnership, practice, and research.