Risk perception and young adults' HPV vaccination intention: How perceived severity and susceptibility shape cognitive pathways in HPV vaccination decisions.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether perceived susceptibility to and severity of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are associated with HPV vaccination intention through attitudes, social norms, and self-efficacy among unvaccinated young adult college students. PARTICIPANTS: Unvaccinated college students aged 18-26 years recruited from four universities in southeast Texas (N = 298). METHODS: Cross-sectional baseline survey data from an ongoing randomized controlled trial were analyzed. Separate mediation models examined perceived susceptibility and perceived severity as predictors of HPV vaccination intention through Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction constructs, controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual activity status. RESULTS: Perceived severity was positively associated with vaccination intention through attitudes, social norms, and self-efficacy. Perceived susceptibility was positively associated with vaccination intention through attitudes and social norms, but not self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that perceived susceptibility and severity may shape HPV vaccination intention through overlapping but distinct cognitive pathways. HPV vaccination interventions for young adults may benefit from messages that highlight both personal risk and serious HPV-related consequences (eg, invasive cancers).