The interdependent roles of the psychosocial predictors of human papillomavirus vaccination among Christian parents of unvaccinated adolescents

Despite the availability of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, uptake has been sub-optimal among certain religious groups. Psychosocial factors (threat appraisal, coping appraisal, and attitudes) have been identified as independent determinants of HPV vaccination. However, their interdependent effects have not been tested. We examined the interdependency of these psychosocial factors in predicting HPV vaccination intention among Christian parents of unvaccinated adolescents (using a theory-driven conceptual model). A cross-sectional study of 342 participants showed that perceived self-efficacy (beta = 0.2, 0.11-0.29, p = <0.0001) and perceived response efficacy of HPV vaccine (beta = 0.65, 0.53-0.77. p < .0001) were positively associated with vaccination intention. Our mediation analysis (using the Preachers and Hayes' approach) shows that attitudes toward HPV vaccination mediated 59% of the relationship between perceived self-efficacy to vaccinate child and HPV vaccination intention; and 61% of the relationship between perceived response efficacy of HPV vaccine and HPV vaccination intention. Attitudes may be the psychosocial factor that drives the effects of coping appraisal. Therefore, designing an attitude-based intervention to address religious barrier beliefs among Christian parents may nullify the impact of low self-efficacy and response efficacy on HPV vaccination.

Automated summary

Psychosocial factors such as perceived self-efficacy and perceived response efficacy are positively associated with HPV vaccination intention. Attitudes toward HPV vaccination mediate the relationship between self-efficacy/response efficacy and vaccination intention, suggesting that attitude-focused interventions may help overcome religious barriers to vaccination.