A disposition-belief-motivation framework for COVID-19 boosters: Prospective tests in a U.S. sample

The present study tested a novel integration of prospective associations of sociodemographic factors, dispositional tendencies, primary vaccine intention, illness beliefs and experiences, preventive beliefs and behaviors, contextual vaccine-related influences, primary vaccination propensity, and subjective numeracy with subsequent COVID-19 booster vaccination.

The preregistered study used a stratified online U.S. sample (N = 500). Four assessments were aligned with "15 days to slow the spread" in March 2020 (baseline), the vaccine authorization and major case/mortality surge during December 2020 and January 2021 (Time 2), the third major/case mortality surge during September-November 2021 (Time 3), and the immediate postpandemic period during May-July 2023 (Time 4).

Path modeling showed greater education at baseline, and perceived risk of infection, flu vaccine history, and primary vaccination at Time 3 were prospective predictors of booster vaccination propensity at Time 4. The effect of greater educational attainment was maintained, in part, by stronger flu vaccine history. The use of reliable COVID-19 vaccine information sources at Time 3 indirectly predicted booster vaccination propensity via primary vaccination propensity. Finally, greater trait openness and less conservative political beliefs showed serially indirect prospective associations with booster vaccination via stronger intermediating vaccine intention and then via stronger primary vaccination propensity.

The integrative psychosocial model identified direct and indirect pathways from antecedent characteristics to booster vaccination, providing further direction for the framing of health provider, public health, and media communications for promoting booster vaccination and mitigating related misinformation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).