Beyond intention: Predicting children's COVID-19 vaccine uptake using the theory of planned behavior

• Main Authors: Eva Yi Hung Lau (Author), Jian-Bin Li (Author), Derwin King Chung Chan (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group, 2023-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2164-5515; 2164-554X; 10.1080/21645515.2023.2260530
• Keywords: theory of planned behavior; uptake; covid-19 vaccine; children; parents' intention; hong kong; Immunologic diseases. Allergy; RC581-607; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, Vol 19, Iss 2 (2023)

This prospective study tested if parental factors from the theory of planned behavior (TPB) predicted children's uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine and examined whether parents' intention to vaccinate children against COVID-19 would mediate such associations. Participants were 852 Hong Kong parents of 1076 children aged 5-12. At Time 1, parents reported on items measuring the TPB predictors (i.e. attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) and intention. At Time 2 (approximately 4 months after Time 1), parents reported whether their children had received the COVID-19 vaccine. Attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and intention predicted children's actual uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Intention mediated the relations between two TPB predictors, namely attitudes and subjective norms, and children's COVID-19 vaccination uptake. The TPB is considered a useful framework in the development of future COVID-19 vaccine programs for children to promote parents' intention and the subsequent uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among children.