Implicit theories of health predict HPV vaccination intention among young adult Chinese women: The mediating effect of consideration of future consequences and future self-continuity

Abstract

This study investigated the predicting effect of implicit theories of health on HPV vaccination intention among young adult Chinese women and its underlying mechanisms. Four-hundred and eighty-three young Chinese women adults (18–26 years old) participated this study by completing measures on implicit theories of health, consideration of future consequences, future self-continuity, and reported their HPV vaccination intention. The results demonstrated that age, whether they knew someone being diagnosed with cancer, implicit (incremental) theories of health, consideration of future consequences (CFC-Future), and future self-continuity significantly predicted young adult Chinese women’s HPV vaccination intention. The predicting effect of implicit theories of health was mediated by consideration of future consequences and future self-continuity. Implications of the current research for promoting HPV vaccination among young adult women and directions for future research are discussed.