Information Source Dependence, Presumed Media Influence, Risk Knowledge and Vaccination Intention
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
February 2020
Publication Title
Atlantic Journal of Communication
DOI
10.1080/15456870.2020.1720022
Abstract
Adults aged 18–29 have the lowest vaccination rates in the United States, which include the college student segment. Even though influenza can spread quickly on a college campus and its adjacent communities, only 8–39% of college students receive vaccination annually. This study assesses the influence of media exposure, knowledge, and perceptual factors on college students to gain a better understanding of how they respond to flu-related risk communication. Results from conducting an online survey of undergraduate students (N= 515) show that the more they depended on social media for risk information, the more likely they intend to seek vaccination. Presumed media influence of online-news and social media dependence on others was each a significant predictor of perceived others’ vaccination intention, which in turn had a direct effect on an individual’s own vaccination intention. Those that were more knowledgeable about the virus also reported a lower intention to receive vaccination. Implications for future research and risk information dissemination were discussed.
Recommended Citation
Lin, Carolyn; Xu, Xiaowen; and Dam, Linda, "Information Source Dependence, Presumed Media Influence, Risk Knowledge and Vaccination Intention" (2020). Scholarship and Professional Work - Communication. 265.
https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/ccom_papers/265
