Predicting parents’ COVID-19 vaccination intentions and behavior for their children: application of an integrated social cognition model.

Publication date: Aug 02, 2026

Identifying modifiable determinants of parent-for-child vaccination may inform interventions for ongoing management of infectious diseases including COVID-19. We tested an integrated theoretical model in which social cognition constructs (coping appraisals, anticipated regret, moral norms) mediated effects of dispositional constructs (political orientation, conspiracy beliefs, vaccine hesitancy) on parent-for-child COVID-19 vaccination intention and behaviour. In a prospective correlational study, US parents (N = 497) with an unvaccinated child completed political orientation, conspiracy beliefs, vaccine hesitancy, and social cognition construct measures referring to COVID-19 vaccination for their child. Parents reported their vaccination behaviour for their child five weeks later. Consistent with predictions, we observed indirect effects of political orientation and vaccination hesitancy on intentions mediated by coping efficacy, anticipated regret, and moral norms, and sums of indirect effects of political orientation, conspiracy beliefs, and vaccine hesitancy on intention mediated by social cognition constructs. We also observed a sum of indirect effects of vaccine hesitancy on behaviour. Findings contribute to an evidence base for the effects of dispositional and social cognition constructs of parent-for-child COVID-19 vaccination intentions and behaviour and signal a candidate mechanism. Findings may provide formative evidence for developing interventions to manage childhood COVID-19 infection rates.

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Semantics

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