Behavioral Intention and Its Predictors toward COVID-19 Booster Vaccination among Chinese Parents: Applying Two Behavioral Theories

ABSTRACT

The booster vaccination of COVID-19 is being implemented in most parts of the world. This study used behavioral psychology to investigate the predictors of parents' intentions regarding the COVID-19 booster vaccination for their children. This is a cross-sectional study with a self-designed questionnaire based on two behavioral theories-protective motivation theory (PMT) and theory of planned behavior (TPB). A stratified multi-stage sampling procedure was conducted in Nanjing, China, and multivariable regression analyses were applied to examine the parents' intentions. The intention rate was 87.3%. The response efficacy (ORa = 2.238, 95% CI 1.360–3.682) and response cost (ORa = 0.484, 95% CI 0.319–0.732) in the PMT, were significant psychological predictors of parents' intentions, and so were the attitude (ORa = 2.619, 95% CI 1.480–4.636) and behavioral control (ORa = 3.743, 95% CI 2.165–6.471) in the TPB. The findings of crucial independent predictors in the PMT and TPB constructs inform the evidence-based formulation and implementation of strategies for booster vaccination in children.