Vaccination hesitancy: Applying the protection motivation theory on parents' information behavior

Objectives This research study investigates COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among parents in charge of vaccinating their adolescents. The study employs the threat and coping appraisals of the Protection Motivation Theory as a framework to examine parents' information behavior toward vaccinating their adolescents.Methods A quantitative research design using online questionnaires was conducted to collect data from Jordanian parents of adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old. Using convenience sampling, 1000 questionnaires with closed-ended and Likert scale questions were distributed electronically, and only 467 response were retrieved. The study used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze data from 421 responses.Results The study found that the information behavior of parents in dealing with perceived vulnerability and response cost of the virus were significant predictors of parents' vaccination hesitancy. The study has also found that making a vaccination decision based on the available information, response efficacy, and self-efficacy were not significant predictors of vaccination hesitancy. Surprisingly, having information on the perceived severity of the virus was found to increase vaccination hesitancy.Conclusion The study provides useful demographic information about the targeted population and suggests that vaccination promotion strategies should focus on providing accurate information about vaccine-related vulnerabilities and lowering response costs. The findings add to the existing literature on vaccination apprehension and can help guide future research and policy decisions.