Elaboration, Cancer Worry, and Risk Perception Mediate the Association Between News Attention on the Internet and Intention to Uptake HPV Vaccination: Extending the Cognitive Mediation Model

Abstract

This study tests an extended cognitive mediation model (CMM) by adding cancer worry and risk perceptions as outcomes of elaboration and predictors of intention to uptake human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination among young Chinese women. It also investigates if news attention on newspaper, television, and the Internet are indirectly associated with the intention to uptake HPV vaccination through these mediators. Results of structural equation modeling based on survey data with 399 female university students indicate partial support to the extended CMM. Results show that news attention on the Internet is positively associated with elaboration, while news attention on newspaper and television had no association with it. Moreover, elaboration is positively associated with cancer worry but not with risk perception. Next, cancer worry and risk perception were associated with intention to uptake HPV vaccination. Finally, mediation analysis results showed that news attention on the Internet is indirectly associated with intention to uptake HPV vaccination through elaboration and cancer worry. Theoretical and practical implications of the study are discussed.