Date

8-9-2024

Department

School of Health Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Chair

Laurel Glover

Keywords

Social networking sites, vaccine hesitancy, vaccine-preventable disease

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

This quantitative study aimed to explore the impact of social networking sites (SNS) on maternal vaccination decisions. Utilizing purposive sampling, the study ensured a representative sample of mothers or expectant mothers over 18 years old, with at least one child under 18, residing in the United States. Participants completed a composite survey consisting of three individual surveys assessing social media usage, vaccination decisions, and information-seeking behaviors. Descriptive statistics were employed for comprehensive analysis, investigating the influence of accessing social media platforms on maternal COVID-19 vaccination decisions. The Shapiro-Wilk test assessed the normality of age, while frequencies, percentages, median, and interquartile range (IQR) were calculated for household income, an ordinal-level variable. Frequencies and percentages were reported for all nominal and ordinal-level demographics. The results of the study indicate that mothers aged 30-39, married, with some college education, full-time employment, and higher household incomes, particularly those using Facebook, X, and Instagram, spend 30-59 minutes daily accessing health-related information. Additionally, these mothers exhibit increased confidence in vaccination benefits, heightened concern about vaccination risks, and enhanced perceived self-efficacy in vaccination decision-making.

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