How Attribution of COVID-19 Crisis Responsibility Predicts Hong Kong Citizens’ Intention to Accept Vaccination

Background: This study aims to illuminate the role of perceived crisis responsibility in shaping vaccination intention. By using the case of Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic, we examined whether and how the allocation of crisis responsibility to the government predicts the public’s intention t...

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Main Authors: Ji Won Kim, Qinxian Cai, Lang Kao, Yi-Hui Christine Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Vaccines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1305
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author Ji Won Kim
Qinxian Cai
Lang Kao
Yi-Hui Christine Huang
author_facet Ji Won Kim
Qinxian Cai
Lang Kao
Yi-Hui Christine Huang
author_sort Ji Won Kim
collection DOAJ
description Background: This study aims to illuminate the role of perceived crisis responsibility in shaping vaccination intention. By using the case of Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic, we examined whether and how the allocation of crisis responsibility to the government predicts the public’s intention to take vaccines, particularly by investigating its underlying mechanism. Method and Results: Based on a population-representative sample of Hong Kong adults (<i>N</i> = 3188), our results indicated that (1) the attribution of crisis responsibility directly led to lower vaccination intention, and (2) it also had indirect influences on vaccination intention through trust and anger; specifically, the crisis attribution resulted in less willingness to take vaccines via a decreased trust in government health agencies. We also found a serial mediation pathway in which anger aroused by the crisis attribution could decrease trust, which, in turn, yielded lower vaccination intentions. Conclusion: The findings of this study offer theoretical insights into the role of attribution of crisis responsibility in affecting vaccination decisions during a public health emergency. Further, these findings provide directions for crisis managers and public health authorities to develop communication strategies to motivate vaccine uptake and formulate an approach to tackle the pandemic crisis.
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spelling doaj-art-07a9ee31673a4d2fafd44948c2acb8882025-08-20T02:43:49ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2024-11-011212130510.3390/vaccines12121305How Attribution of COVID-19 Crisis Responsibility Predicts Hong Kong Citizens’ Intention to Accept VaccinationJi Won Kim0Qinxian Cai1Lang Kao2Yi-Hui Christine Huang3Department of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong KongDepartment of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong KongDepartment of Social Science, The Hang Seng University, New Territories, Hong KongDepartment of Media and Communication, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong KongBackground: This study aims to illuminate the role of perceived crisis responsibility in shaping vaccination intention. By using the case of Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic, we examined whether and how the allocation of crisis responsibility to the government predicts the public’s intention to take vaccines, particularly by investigating its underlying mechanism. Method and Results: Based on a population-representative sample of Hong Kong adults (<i>N</i> = 3188), our results indicated that (1) the attribution of crisis responsibility directly led to lower vaccination intention, and (2) it also had indirect influences on vaccination intention through trust and anger; specifically, the crisis attribution resulted in less willingness to take vaccines via a decreased trust in government health agencies. We also found a serial mediation pathway in which anger aroused by the crisis attribution could decrease trust, which, in turn, yielded lower vaccination intentions. Conclusion: The findings of this study offer theoretical insights into the role of attribution of crisis responsibility in affecting vaccination decisions during a public health emergency. Further, these findings provide directions for crisis managers and public health authorities to develop communication strategies to motivate vaccine uptake and formulate an approach to tackle the pandemic crisis.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1305crisis responsibility attributiontrustangervaccination intentionthe pandemic
spellingShingle Ji Won Kim
Qinxian Cai
Lang Kao
Yi-Hui Christine Huang
How Attribution of COVID-19 Crisis Responsibility Predicts Hong Kong Citizens’ Intention to Accept Vaccination
Vaccines
crisis responsibility attribution
trust
anger
vaccination intention
the pandemic
title How Attribution of COVID-19 Crisis Responsibility Predicts Hong Kong Citizens’ Intention to Accept Vaccination
title_full How Attribution of COVID-19 Crisis Responsibility Predicts Hong Kong Citizens’ Intention to Accept Vaccination
title_fullStr How Attribution of COVID-19 Crisis Responsibility Predicts Hong Kong Citizens’ Intention to Accept Vaccination
title_full_unstemmed How Attribution of COVID-19 Crisis Responsibility Predicts Hong Kong Citizens’ Intention to Accept Vaccination
title_short How Attribution of COVID-19 Crisis Responsibility Predicts Hong Kong Citizens’ Intention to Accept Vaccination
title_sort how attribution of covid 19 crisis responsibility predicts hong kong citizens intention to accept vaccination
topic crisis responsibility attribution
trust
anger
vaccination intention
the pandemic
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/12/12/1305
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