A Shot in the Arm for Vaccination Intention: The Media and the Health Belief Model in Three Chinese Societies

Ruoheng Liu, Yi-Hui Christine Huang, Jie Sun, Jennifer Lau and Qinxian Cai
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Ruoheng Liu: Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Yi-Hui Christine Huang: Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Jie Sun: Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Jennifer Lau: Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Qinxian Cai: Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-17

Abstract: This large-sample study of three Chinese societies—Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong—demonstrates the importance of media exposure for people’s vaccination intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic. By employing two constructs (i.e., perceived susceptibility and severity) in the health belief model (HBM), the study identifies significant indirect effects of media exposure on individuals’ vaccination intention in all three Chinese societies. That said, media trust negatively moderated the path from perceived severity to vaccination intention in Mainland China and Taiwan. In these two societies, the higher an individual’s trust in media, the less influence of perceived severity on his/her vaccination intention. It suggests that the level of trust in media is a contextual factor in explaining individuals’ decision-making on health issues. Generally, the combination of the HBM and media trust has been proven to be useful for understanding individuals’ vaccination intentions. These findings provide practical considerations for governmental agencies, public institutions, and health campaign designers to promote vaccination in the pandemic.

Keywords: vaccination intention; media exposure; health belief model; media trust; Chinese societies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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