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. 2022;41(1):492-504.
doi: 10.1007/s12144-021-01681-z. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Social support, perceived risk and the likelihood of COVID-19 testing and vaccination: cross-sectional data from the United Kingdom

Rusi Jaspal  1 , Glynis M Breakwell  2   3
Affiliations

Social support, perceived risk and the likelihood of COVID-19 testing and vaccination: cross-sectional data from the United Kingdom

Rusi Jaspal et al. Curr Psychol. 2022.

Abstract

Two samples of 227 and 214 adults completed surveys of social support, perceived risk of COVID-19 and COVID-19 preventive activity - in Study 1 likelihood of testing was examined and in Study 2 likelihood of both testing and vaccination were examined during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Path analysis showed, in Study 1, that access to help (as an indicator of social support) had a direct effect on likelihood of testing and indirect effects through self-efficacy, perceived risk and preventive behavior; and, in Study 2, that neighborhood identification (as an indicator of social support) had a direct effect on likelihood of testing and indirect effects on likelihood of both testing and vaccination through the mediators of strength of social network, loneliness, perceived risk of COVID-19, and preventive activity. Both studies suggest that level of social support (conceptualized in different ways) is an important determinant of COVID-19 testing and Study 2 shows it is also a determinant of likelihood of vaccination. As resurgences of COVID-19 occur, it will be necessary to monitor the likelihood of COVID-19 testing and vaccination behaviors and, especially, to promote confidence in the latter in individuals with decreased access to social support.

Keywords: COVID-19; Perceived risk; Self-efficacy; Social support; Testing; Vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest/Competing InterestsThe authors declare no conflicts of interest or competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Path analysis of the relationship between social support: access to help and likelihood of COVID-19 testing through the mediators of self-efficacy, perceived risk of COVID-19, and COVID-19 preventive activity
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Path analysis of the relationship between social support: neighborhood identification and likelihood of COVID-19 testing and vaccination through the mediators of strength of social network, loneliness, perceived risk of COVID-19 and COVID-19 preventive activity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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