HPV Vaccination Predictors Among College Students
- 1Present Address: University of South Alabama, Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, Mobile, AL USA
- 2Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA`Corresponding USA
Abstract
College students remain at increased risk for acquiring human papillomavirus (HPV), yet HPV vaccination coverage remains suboptimal despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. This study examined predictors of HPV vaccination and HPV- and HPV vaccine-related knowledge, beliefs, and hesitancy among undergraduate students at a southern United States university. An online cross-sectional survey was administered to undergraduate students aged 18–26 years in November 2024. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, vaccination status, and HPV-related measures. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with HPV vaccination status while estimating adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Among 1,127 respondents (mean age, 20.1 years), most were female (74.1%), White (74.9%), and insured (90.4%). Overall, 48.4% reported receiving at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, with only 21.7% completion. More than 30% were unsure of their HPV vaccination status. HPV knowledge, HPV vaccine knowledge and beliefs, and vaccine hesitancy were all independently associated with vaccination status (all p < 0.001). Participants with stronger positive HPV vaccine beliefs and lower vaccine hesitancy had significantly greater odds of reporting HPV vaccination. In secondary analyses, both provider and parental recommendation were significantly associated with younger age at initiation. HPV vaccination initiation and completion remain low among college students, with substantial gaps in knowledge, awareness, and confidence. College campuses represent an important setting for interventions that improve HPV-related knowledge, strengthen vaccine confidence, increase awareness of personal vaccination status, and promote vaccination to reduce future HPV-associated cancers.
Related
- Factors associated with HPV vaccination among female college students in China: a cross-sectional study
- Trust in HPV vaccine effectiveness and safety and willingness to initiate HPV vaccination among unvaccinated female college students recruited through university-based online networks in China: a cross-sectional study
- Perceived knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward genital warts and HPV vaccination among college students in Shandong Province, China.
- The role of socioeconomic status in HPV-related knowledge, attitude, vaccination willingness and preference among college males
- A moderated mediation model of the association between parental psychological control and internalizing problems among college students
BibTeX
@article{lee2026vaccination,
title = {{HPV Vaccination Predictors Among College Students}},
author = {Alyssa Lee and Kiley Brady Kirby and Derek Werthmann and Casey L. Daniel},
journal = {Journal of Community Health},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1007/s10900-026-01620-8},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01620-8},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - HPV Vaccination Predictors Among College Students
AU - Alyssa Lee
AU - Kiley Brady Kirby
AU - Derek Werthmann
AU - Casey L. Daniel
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/07
JO - Journal of Community Health
DO - 10.1007/s10900-026-01620-8
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-026-01620-8
AB - College students remain at increased risk for acquiring human papillomavirus (HPV), yet HPV vaccination coverage remains suboptimal despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. This study examined predictors of HPV vaccination and HPV- and HPV vaccine-related knowledge, beliefs, and hesitancy among undergraduate students at a southern United States university. An online cross-sectional survey was administered to undergraduate students aged 18–26 years in November 2024. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, vaccination status, and HPV-related measures. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with HPV vaccination status while estimating adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Among 1,127 respondents (mean age, 20.1 years), most were female (74.1%), White (74.9%), and insured (90.4%). Overall, 48.4% reported receiving at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, with only 21.7% completion. More than 30% were unsure of their HPV vaccination status. HPV knowledge, HPV vaccine knowledge and beliefs, and vaccine hesitancy were all independently associated with vaccination status (all p < 0.001). Participants with stronger positive HPV vaccine beliefs and lower vaccine hesitancy had significantly greater odds of reporting HPV vaccination. In secondary analyses, both provider and parental recommendation were significantly associated with younger age at initiation. HPV vaccination initiation and completion remain low among college students, with substantial gaps in knowledge, awareness, and confidence. College campuses represent an important setting for interventions that improve HPV-related knowledge, strengthen vaccine confidence, increase awareness of personal vaccination status, and promote vaccination to reduce future HPV-associated cancers.
SN - 0094-5145
SN - 1573-3610
ER -