The Impact of Social Media Addiction on Vaccine Hesitancy Among Nursing Students: Testing an Empirical Model

Introduction: Vaccine hesitancy is relevant among nursing students, as they move across healthcare and university settings. Given the opportunity of social media to disseminate misleading information to users and the exposure of the digital natives, social media addiction (SMA) is considered a predictor of vaccine hesitancy, although to date no research within this specific population exists. Purpose: To investigate the role of SMA on vaccine hesitancy in nursing students. Design: Cross-sectional. Method: Structural Equation Modelling was adopted to test the study's aim. The VAX scale was used among 227 nursing students in the UK regarding COVID-19 and Influenza vaccines during the period from March to July 2023. The Bergen Social Media Addiction scale was adopted to measure SMA. Results: Statistically significant results were found between SMA and mistrust of vaccine benefits. No significant correlations were found between SMA and concerns about unforeseen future effects or a preference for natural immunity. Regarding concerns about commercial profiteering, there was a significant negative correlation for the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: Mistrust in institutions and scepticism towards vaccine benefits and commercial interests are recurring issues tied to social media. Targeting popular social media platforms for tailored vaccination campaigns is recommended to promote vaccine acceptance among nursing students. Implications for the profession and/or patient care: Providing accurate and accessible vaccine information on social media platforms, promoting media literacy and engaging with individuals to address their concerns are key to promoting vaccination among nursing students. Impact: This study provides new strategies for tailoring vaccination campaigns and policies. Public health efforts to combat vaccine hesitancy should consider the role of social media and work to provide accurate and balanced information to the public. Reporting method: The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines were adopted. Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution.