A study of parental decision-making over the vaccination of girls, based on the protection motivation theory and the elaboration likelihood model

Determinants of Parental Intention to Vaccinate Young Adolescent Girls against the Human Papillomavirus in Taiwan: An Online Survey Study

Since 2018, Taiwan has included the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination into its national immunization program for junior high school girls. However, the reports of side effects following vaccination have increased parental concerns. This study investigated parental intentions regarding the HPV vaccination for their daughters and related factors in Taiwan. A total of 213 parents of girls aged between 12 and 15 years participated in an online survey. The survey collected data on various factors, including the parental intention to vaccinate their daughters against HPV; the motivation behind the vaccinations, as measured using the Motors of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Acceptance Scale; an understanding of the reasons behind the government's promotion of HPV vaccinations; concerns regarding the side effects of vaccinations for their daughters; an awareness of the reported side effects of HPV vaccines experienced by some individuals; the exposure to information on HPV vaccines from social media; and mental health status, measured using the Brief Symptom Rating Scale. The associations between these variables and the parental intention to vaccinate their daughters against HPV were examined using a multivariable linear regression analysis model. The findings revealed a moderate to high level of intention among participants to vaccinate their daughters against HPV. Parents who perceived a greater value in HPV vaccination for their daughters' health (B = 0.524, standard error [se] = 0.039, p < 0.001) and had greater autonomy in decision-making regarding vaccination (B = 0.086, se = 0.038, p = 0.026) exhibited a higher intention to vaccinate their daughters against HPV. Conversely, parents who expressed greater concern regarding the side effects of HPV vaccines for their daughters had a lower intention to vaccinate (B = -0.762, se = 0.203, p < 0.001). Based on these findings, this study recommends integrating these factors into the design of intervention programs aimed at enhancing parental intentions to vaccinate their daughters against HPV.

Academic motivation in adolescents: the role of parental autonomy support, psychological needs satisfaction and self-control

Background

Various perspectives on the existence and degree of motivation, which is a crucial factor influencing human behavior, have been studied for many years. Especially in adolescence, a phase marked by rapid change, motivation plays a crucial role in supporting young people to achieve their goals, fulfill their responsibilities, and experience healthy development.

Aims

The present study aims to investigate the structural relationships among perceived parental autonomy support, satisfaction of psychological needs, self-control, and academic motivation.

Sample

The study was conducted with a total of 427 high school students, including 230 females and 197 males, aged between 14 and 19 (M = 15.82; SD = 1.02).

Method

Participants completed self-report measures of academic motivation, parental autonomy support, psychological needs satisfaction, and self-control. Structural equation modeling was performed to explore complex relationships between variables of interest.

Results

The study revealed that psychological needs satisfaction increased as parental autonomy support increased, and self-control also increased with the satisfaction of psychological needs. It was also found that satisfaction of psychological needs was positively related to both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Additionally, self-control was associated with increased intrinsic motivation and decreased amotivation. In addition, it was found that parental autonomy support has an indirect relationship with academic motivation through the satisfaction of psychological needs and self-control.

Conclusion

It is believed that these connections will lead to a deeper understanding of the significant processes in adolescence and serve as a foundation for developing and implementing psycho-educational interventions related to these variables.

Sharing intention of electronic health records in online health communities: Patients' behavioral decisions in the context of privacy protection measures

Online health communities (OHCs) have become more important to people's daily lives on the foundation of the voluntary sharing of electronic health records (EHRs). However, no in-depth investigation has been conducted concerning the influence of the perceptions of privacy protection among patients on their willingness to share EHRs. To fill the knowledge gap, by combining and modifying the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the health belief model in the context of the privacy protection models implemented by OHCs, an empirical research method using a questionnaire approach is conducted to validate the hypotheses. The results indicate that the more positive a patient's attitude toward medical information sharing behavior is, the higher that patient's level of perceived behavioral control; in addition, the greater the social rewards obtained from this process, the more willing the patient is to share his or her EHRs after privacy protection measures are implemented by OHCs. Meanwhile, the effects of past positive experiences and disease severity have also been tested. The findings of this study can be used to promote patients' full participation in OHCs from a privacy perspective and offer theoretical and practical suggestions to promote the development of OHCs.