Factors influencing athletes’ intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster

We investigated the factors predicting athletes’ intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster in Mainland China by integrating the stimulus–organism–response model and the theory of planned behavior. The sample comprised 981 respondents from the National Games of the People’s Republic of China, selected using purposive sampling. We used descriptive analysis and partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze the data. The findings revealed that athletes’ subjective norm and knowledge significantly predicted their attitude, commitment, and perceived behavioral control. Further, attitude, commitment, and perceived behavioral control were full mediators of the links between subjective norm, knowledge, and intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine booster. The path between knowledge and commitment was the most powerful predictor of intention to receive the booster. Motivation moderated the relationships between knowledge, attitude, commitment, and perceived behavioral control. Athletes’ knowledge was crucial in shaping a positive attitude, commitment, and perceived control, thus enhancing their intention to receive the booster.