Abstract
This study investigates intentions to vaccinate against Coronavirus and to support the authorities in limiting the pandemic's effects from the theory of planned behavior perspective in a Romanian adult sample. We intend to improve this model by adding additional variables such as irrational beliefs, past behavior, and risk perception. Hierarchical regression analyses show that the model based on demographic variables such as age and education and the theory of planned behavior constructs best explain the vaccination intention (75%) and support for authorities (29%). The results obtained indicate that a high level of education, favorable subjective norms inside the population, a positive attitude towards vaccination, lack of pressure/obligation to vaccinate, and low perception of the risk associated with this medical procedure led to an individual decision in favor of vaccination. Increased values of normative beliefs and perceived behavior control (from the TPB model) lead to increased support given to the authorities and, the low values of irrational beliefs, in the case of beliefs in conspiracy theories and pseudo-religious beliefs, also increase the support given to the authorities.
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