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. 2023 Sep 20:9:20552076231185430.
doi: 10.1177/20552076231185430. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.

How cyberchondria and decision self-efficacy shapes the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine: A gender-based comparison

Riffat Shahani  1 , Fahad Asmi  1 , Jin Ma  2 , Asma Zawar  1 , Olayemi Hafeez Rufai  1 , Sayibu Muhideen  1 , Tunde Simeon Amosun  1 , Chu Jianxun  1
Affiliations

How cyberchondria and decision self-efficacy shapes the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine: A gender-based comparison

Riffat Shahani et al. Digit Health. .

Abstract

Objective: Alarmingly, the individuals' reach and coverage to get vaccinated in developing regions during the pandemic is a massive challenge for concerned authorities. This study aimed to demonstrate how cyberchondria play a significant role in a classical health belief model. Cyberchondria may influence cognitive factors (e.g. self-efficacy), which may contribute to an increase in attitude-behavior gap. Especially in the context of a health-centric scenario, it may discourage individuals to take protective measures.

Method: By using the cross-sectional research design, the authors conducted a quantitative survey in Pakistan and collected 563 responses from 303 male respondents (rural = 91; urban = 212) with (Urban M:35.5, standard deviation (SD):13.4) and rural M:37.5, SD:8.4).

Result: The findings indicate that decision self-efficacy among males is stronger than that in females. It dominates other determinants, which can dampen the individuals' intentions to get vaccinated. For instance, the effect of conspiracies and perceived seriousness was noted nonsignificant and weak. In females, perceived seriousness was stronger determinant than in males. In addition, the negative effect of decision self-efficacy was noted in the case of females, and conspiracy and cyberchondria had a negative role.

Conclusion: This study highlights valuable implications for future research in infodemic, health communication and health literacy, and practical implications for regulatory bodies and public administration.

Keywords: COVID-19; cyberchondria; decision self-efficacy; health belief model; multigroup analysis; social media; vaccine acceptance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Graphical repetition of structural path analysis results of MGA.
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