Emerging Vaccination Stance in Adolescents, and Emerging Adults: The Role of Trust and Knowledge

Abstract

The present study investigates the predictive contribution of generalized and particularized trust and vaccination knowledge in explaining youth’s vaccination intention, as well as the moderating role of the vaccination status in the previously mentioned relationships. A total of 311 adolescents and emerging adults (aged 15 to 25, Mage = 21.19, SD = 2.55) from Serbia completed measures of vaccination intention and vaccination status, generalized and particularized trust, and vaccination knowledge. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis showed that prior uptake of a vaccine against the coronavirus was the best predictor of youth's intention to receive the coronavirus vaccine in the future. In addition, trust in the healthcare system and science, trust in God's will and alternative medicine, as well as knowledge about vaccines stood out as significant predictors of behavioral intention. Contrary to expectations, trust in government and public media, as well as trust in family and friends did not contribute to the explanation of young people's intention to get vaccinated. Besides, no moderating role of vaccination status was detected; regardless of vaccination status, the same determinants of youth’s vaccination intention were registered. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed in light of the importance of the development of evidence-based national vaccination programs for young people that can have a preventive character in a period of a global confidence crisis.