Cyberchondria, Fear of COVID-19, and Risk Perception Mediate the Association between Problematic Social Media Use and Intention to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine

Abstract

Vaccination is the most effective way to control the COVID-19 pandemic, but vaccination hesitancy threatens this effort worldwide. Consequently, there is a need to understand what influences individuals’ intention to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Restriction of information gathering on societal developments to social media may influence attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination through exposure to disinformation and imbalanced arguments. The present study examined the association between problematic social media use and intention to get the COVID-19 vaccine, taking into account the mediating roles of cyberchondria, fear of COVID-19, and COVID-19 risk perception. In a cross-sectional survey study, a total of 10,843 residents of Qazvin City, Iran completed measures on problematic social media use, fear of COVID-19, cyberchondria, COVID-19 risk perception, and intention to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed that there was no direct association between problematic social media use and intention to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Nonetheless, cyberchondria, fear of COVID-19, and COVID-19 risk perception (each or serially) mediated associations between problematic social media use and intention to get a COVID-19 vaccine. These results add to the understanding of the role of problematic social media use in COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, i.e., it is not the quantity of social media use per se that matters. This knowledge of the mediating roles of cyberchondria, fear of COVID-19, and COVID-19 risk perception can be used by public health experts and policymakers when planning educational interventions and other initiatives in COVID-19 vaccination programs.

Beliefs, barriers and hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine among Bangladeshi residents: Findings from a cross-sectional study

“…Evidence indicated that the fear of COVID-19 could be an important factor contributing to vaccine hesitancy [ 65 , 66 ]. However, this factor was not investigated in the present study.…”

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: The Role of Socioeconomic Factors and Spatial Effects

“…Instead, the existing literature highlights the influence of subjective perceptions and psychological factors on vaccine acceptance. People are more willing to get vaccinated if they have more infection- or health-related fears, or if they trust health officials’ dissemination of COVID-19-related information rather than relying on the information on social media [ 4 , 5 , 10 ]. Reich [ 18 ] found that parents with high levels of social privilege are more likely to refuse vaccines for their children.…”

“…To enhance the progress of COVID-19 vaccination, the critical first step is to understand the underlying drivers behind unvaccinated individuals, particularly their hesitancy or skepticism about the service. Much of the fast-growing body of research on this topic emphasizes disparities in different sociodemographic groups’ attitudes or fears towards the available vaccines (e.g., [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]). It remains a challenge to effectively implement vaccine campaign strategies to target those population segments with under-vaccination rates.…”

Risk Perception, Media, and Ordinary People’s Intention to Engage in Self-Protective Behaviors in the Early Stage of COVID-19 Pandemic in China

“…54 Restrictions on social media collection of information about social development might affect attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination through exposure to disinformation and imbalanced arguments. 55 Problematic social media use was significantly associated with psychological distress both directly and indirectly. 23 However, there was controversy over the role of the media in disseminating risk information.…”