title: The role of social networks in influenza vaccine attitudes and intentions among college students in the Southeastern United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether support for vaccines among one's health discussants is associated with beliefs in vaccine safety and intention to vaccinate among college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ordered logistic regression analysis was conducted of data collected from 1,019 undergraduates at a large public university in 2009 and 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Having health discussion networks that support vaccination is a significant predictor of beliefs of H1N1 vaccine safety (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.32) and intention (aOR = 1.78) in 2009 and of influenza vaccine safety (aOR = 1.85) and intention (aOR = 1.74) in 2010. These relationships are strongest among parents, friends, and spouses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceptions of flu vaccine attitudes among health discussants were strongly related to vaccination intent and beliefs about flu vaccine safety among survey respondents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Government, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nyhan
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reifler
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richey
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines