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Alfasi Y. Conspiracy beliefs explain why intolerance of uncertainty, personal control, and political uncontrollability predict willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19. THE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023:1-14. [PMID: 37996393 DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2023.2286592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Conspiracy theories tend to be disseminated in times when anxiety and uncertainty prevail. Thus, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was fertile ground for the dissemination of conspiracy theories. The current study examined the role of conspiracy belief in the association between individual differences in perceptions of lack of control and certainty, and willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Participants (N = 323) completed measures of willingness to get vaccinated, belief in COVID-19 vaccines conspiracy, intolerance of uncertainty (IOU), perceived personal control, and political uncontrollability. Results show that conspiracy beliefs mediated the positive association between perceived personal control and willingness to get vaccinated, and the negative association between political uncontrollability and willingness to get vaccinated. Additionally, conspiracy belief had a suppression effect on the association between IOU and willingness to get vaccinated. These findings indicate that uncertainty and sense of lack of control heighten the need for an explanation that offers some degree of clarity, which in turn is related to adoption of conspiracy theories and may consequently have negative effects on health behavior.
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Han Q, Zheng B, Abakoumkin G, Leander NP, Stroebe W. Why some people do not get vaccinated against COVID-19: Social-cognitive determinants of vaccination behavior. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2023; 15:825-845. [PMID: 36345695 PMCID: PMC9877847 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
It is puzzling that a sizeable percentage of people refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19. This study aimed to examine social psychological factors influencing their vaccine hesitancy. This longitudinal study traced a cohort of 2663 individuals in 25 countries from the time before COVID-19 vaccines became available (March 2020) to July 2021, when vaccination was widely available. Multilevel logistic regressions were used to examine determinants of actual COVID-19 vaccination behavior by July 2021, with country-level intercept as random effect. Of the 2663 participants, 2186 (82.1%) had been vaccinated by July 2021. Participants' attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines was the strongest predictor of both vaccination intention and subsequent vaccination behavior (p < .001). Perceived risk of getting infected and perceived personal disturbance of infection were also associated with higher likelihood of getting vaccinated (p < .001). However, religiosity, right-wing political orientation, conspiracy beliefs, and low trust in government regarding COVID-19 were negative predictors of vaccination intention and behavior (p < .05). Our findings highlight the importance of attitude toward COVID-19 vaccines and also suggest that certain life-long held convictions that predate the pandemic make people distrustful of their government and likely to accept conspiracy beliefs and therefore less likely to adopt the vaccination behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Han
- Department of Social Policy and InterventionUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Bang Zheng
- Department of Non‐communicable Disease EpidemiologyLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineLondonUK
- Ageing Epidemiology Research Unit, School of Public HealthImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - Georgios Abakoumkin
- Laboratory of Psychology, Department of Early Childhood EducationUniversity of ThessalyVolosGreece
| | - N. Pontus Leander
- Department of Social and Organizational PsychologyUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
- Department of PsychologyWayne State UniversityDetroitMichiganUSA
| | - Wolfgang Stroebe
- Department of Social and Organizational PsychologyUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
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Pilch I, Turska-Kawa A, Wardawy P, Olszanecka-Marmola A, Smołkowska-Jędo W. Contemporary trends in psychological research on conspiracy beliefs. A systematic review. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1075779. [PMID: 36844318 PMCID: PMC9945548 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1075779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The number of psychological studies on conspiracy beliefs has been systematically growing for about a dozen years, but in recent years, the trend has intensified. We provided a review covering the psychological literature on conspiracy beliefs from 2018 to 2021. Halfway through this period, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, accompanied by an explosion of movements based on conspiracy theories, intensifying researchers' interest in this issue. Methods Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, the review systematically searched for relevant journal articles published between 2018 and 2021. A search was done on Scopus and Web of Science (only peer-reviewed journals). A study was included if it contained primary empirical data, if specific or general conspiracy belief(s) were measured and if its correlation with at least one other psychological variable was reported. All the studies were grouped for the descriptive analysis according to the methodology used, the participants' characteristics, the continent of origin, the sample size, and the conspiracy beliefs measurement tools. Due to substantial methodological heterogeneity of the studies, narrative synthesis was performed. The five researchers were assigned specific roles at each stage of the analysis to ensure the highest quality of the research. Results Following the proposed methodology, 308 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and 274 articles (417 studies) meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and included in the review. Almost half of the studies (49.6%) were conducted in European countries. The vast majority of the studies (85.7%) were carried out on samples of adult respondents. The research presents antecedents as well as (potential) consequences of conspiracy beliefs. We grouped the antecedents of conspiracy beliefs into six categories: cognitive (e.g., thinking style) motivational (e.g., uncertainty avoidance), personality (e.g., collective narcissism), psychopathology (e.g., Dark Triad traits), political (e.g., ideological orientation), and sociocultural factors (e.g., collectivism). Conclusion and limitations The research presents evidence on the links between conspiracy beliefs and a range of attitudes and behaviors considered unfavorable from the point of view of individuals and of the society at large. It turned out that different constructs of conspiracy thinking interact with each other. The limitations of the study are discussed in the last part of the article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Pilch
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Turska-Kawa
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Political Science, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland,*Correspondence: Agnieszka Turska-Kawa,
| | - Paulina Wardawy
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Agata Olszanecka-Marmola
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Political Science, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
| | - Wiktoria Smołkowska-Jędo
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
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Holman AC, Popușoi SA. Afraid but misinformed: Conspiracist beliefs cancel the positive influence of fear of COVID-19 on vaccination intentions - Findings from a Romanian sample. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1109064. [PMID: 37151344 PMCID: PMC10158732 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1109064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors that make people more likely to refuse vaccination against COVID-19 is crucial in order to design public health messages efficient in increasing vaccination rates. As COVID-19 creates risks of seriously damaging health effects, fear of this disease is as a significant determinant of vaccination intentions, as indicated by past research. Nevertheless, this positive influence may be limited in people who do not consider vaccines as a solution to protect against COVID-19, especially those who hold conspiracist beliefs about the new coronavirus and, implicitly, about the newly developed vaccines. The present study examined in a cross-sectional design on a convenience sample (N = 564) the joint effect of fear of COVID-19 and conspiracist beliefs on vaccination intentions, advancing past research on their independent influences. Furthermore, we investigated and controlled the effects of perceived risk of catching COVID-19, trust in medical experts, attitude towards vaccination and socio-demographical characteristics (i.e., gender, age, and education), previously found to be associated to COVID-19 vaccination intentions. We also tested the effect of ambivalence towards vaccination, i.e., the degree to which people simultaneously hold positive and negative evaluations of this intervention, as the widespread misinformation on the new coronavirus and its vaccines may induce ambivalence on this latter issue in many people. The results showed that the positive effect of fear of COVID-19 on vaccination intentions emerged only in participants who tend not to endorse conspiracist ideas on the new coronavirus. Moreover, higher vaccine hesitancy was found in participants with higher ambivalence towards vaccination, in those who perceive the risk of being contaminated by the new coronavirus as low, and in those with more negative attitudes towards vaccines in general. Vaccine ambivalence also emerged as a mediator of the negative effects of conspiracist beliefs about COVID-19 on vaccination intentions. This pattern of findings suggests the public messages emphasizing the risks of COVID-19 should also combat misinformation in order to maximize vaccine uptake.
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5
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Maftei A, Petroi CE. "I'm luckier than everybody else!": Optimistic bias, COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, vaccination status, and the link with the time spent online, anticipated regret, and the perceived threat. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1019298. [PMID: 36457316 PMCID: PMC9706105 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1019298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The catastrophic wave in the fall of 2021 drove Romania to the top of the list of dangerous COVID-19 infections, with the highest mortality rate in Europe. At the same time, Romania had one of the lowest vaccination rates. In this context, the present research aimed to explore the link between vaccination intention/status, optimistic bias, COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, the time spent online, and vaccination (anticipated) regret. Our convenience sample was formed by 408 adults aged 18-63 years (M = 22.11, SD = 6.18, 69.9 % females), who were distributed into four groups: (1) non-vaccinated who definitely refused COVID-19 vaccination, (2) non-vaccinated who considered COVID-19 vaccination, (3) non-vaccinated who reported their absolute willingness to COVID-19 vaccination, and (4) people who were COVID-19 vaccinated. We conducted our analyses separately, depending on these groups (i.e., vaccination intentions/status). Data were collected using an online questionnaire between November 10, 2021, and January 03, 2022. In our cross-sectional approach, following correlation and ANOVA analyses, among the observed patterns were (1) the significant negative relation between optimism bias and the perceived COVID-19 threat; (2) the positive link between anticipated regret, post-vaccination regret, age, and conspiracy beliefs. We discuss our findings considering their contribution to health policies and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Maftei
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iaşi, Romania
| | - Cosmina Elena Petroi
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iaşi, Romania
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Barattucci M, Pagliaro S, Ballone C, Teresi M, Consoli C, Garofalo A, De Giorgio A, Ramaci T. Trust in Science as a Possible Mediator between Different Antecedents and COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Intention: An Integration of Health Belief Model (HBM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10071099. [PMID: 35891265 PMCID: PMC9320855 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10071099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As the literature highlights, many health behavior theories try to explain both social and psychological variables influencing an individual’s health behavior. This study integrates insights relative to the antecedents of getting vaccinated from health behavior theories, particularly including the health belief model (HBM), the theory of planned behavior (TPB), and the different socio-demographic factors. Furthermore, we considered the possible mechanism of impact of distrust in science on individuals’ hesitance and resistance to taking up SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in subjects living in Italy. A correlational study of 1095 subjects enrolled when the national vaccination campaign for the third dose was launched. A questionnaire was used to measure: Italian Risk Perception; subjective norm; trust in science, trust in the vaccine; fear of COVID-19; fear of the vaccine; perceived knowledge about SARS-CoV-2; booster vaccination intention. Principal results show that: (i) the positive relationship provided by HBM theory between perceptions of SARS-CoV-2 risk (vulnerability and severity) and intention to have the vaccine, through fear of COVID-19; (ii) the positive relationship between subjective norms and both trust in science and vaccination intention; (iii) that trust in science plays a crucial role in predicting vaccination intention. Finally, the results provided indications about a positive relationship between subjective norms and fear of COVID-19, and a full mediation role of trust in science in the relationships between determinants of both TPA and HBM, fear of COVID-19, and vaccination intention. In conclusion, an individual’s intention (not) to get vaccinated requires the consideration of a plethora of socio-psychological factors. However, overall, trust in science appears to be a key determinant of vaccination intention. Additional strategies promoting healthy behavior are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Barattucci
- Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129 Bergamo, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Stefano Pagliaro
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Studies ‘Gabriele d’Annunzio’, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.P.); (C.B.); (M.T.)
| | - Chiara Ballone
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Studies ‘Gabriele d’Annunzio’, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.P.); (C.B.); (M.T.)
| | - Manuel Teresi
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University of Studies ‘Gabriele d’Annunzio’, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (S.P.); (C.B.); (M.T.)
| | - Carlo Consoli
- Koinè, Interdisciplinary Center for Psychology and Educational Sciences, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alice Garofalo
- Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy; (A.G.); (T.R.)
| | | | - Tiziana Ramaci
- Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy; (A.G.); (T.R.)
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Riding the Pandemic Waves—Lessons to Be Learned from the COVID-19 Crisis Management in Romania. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7070122. [PMID: 35878134 PMCID: PMC9316926 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7070122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In our analysis, we assessed how Romania dealt with the numerous challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic during 2021. In that year, the government had to deal with two waves of COVID-19 pandemics caused by the new variants, the low vaccination rate of the population, the overload of the healthcare system and political instability at the same time. Based on publicly available databases and international literature, we evaluated government measures aimed at reducing the spread of the pandemic and ensure the operation of the healthcare workforce and infrastructure. In addition, we evaluated measures to provide health services effectively and the government’s pandemic responses regarding excess mortality in 2021. In the absence of a complex monitoring system, limited information was available on the spread of the pandemic or the various risk factors at play. Due to incomplete and inadequate management systems, the government was unable to implement timely and adequate measures. Our analysis concludes that the management of a pandemic can only be successful if data are collected and evaluated using complex systems in a timely manner, and if members of society adhere to clearly communicated government measures due to high levels of trust in the government.
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Acar K, Horntvedt O, Cabrera A, Olsson A, Ingvar M, Lebedev AV, Petrovic P. COVID-19 conspiracy ideation is associated with the delusion proneness trait and resistance to update of beliefs. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10352. [PMID: 35725585 PMCID: PMC9208343 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14071-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid spread of conspiracy ideas associated with the recent COVID-19 pandemic represents a major threat to the ongoing and coming vaccination programs. Yet, the cognitive factors underlying the pandemic-related conspiracy beliefs are not well described. We hypothesized that such cognitive style is driven by delusion proneness, a trait phenotype associated with formation of delusion-like beliefs that exists on a continuum in the normal population. To probe this hypothesis, we developed a COVID-19 conspiracy questionnaire (CCQ) and assessed 577 subjects online. Their responses clustered into three factors that included Conspiracy, Distrust and Fear/Action as identified using principal component analysis. We then showed that CCQ (in particular the Conspiracy and Distrust factors) related both to general delusion proneness assessed with Peter's Delusion Inventory (PDI) as well as resistance to belief update using a Bias Against Disconfirmatory Evidence (BADE) task. Further, linear regression and pathway analyses suggested a specific contribution of BADE to CCQ not directly explained by PDI. Importantly, the main results remained significant when using a truncated version of the PDI where questions on paranoia were removed (in order to avoid circular evidence), and when adjusting for ADHD- and autistic traits (that are known to be substantially related to delusion proneness). Altogether, our results strongly suggest that pandemic-related conspiracy ideation is associated with delusion proneness trait phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Acar
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, K8 Klinisk neurovetenskap, K8 Neuro Ingvar, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - O Horntvedt
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, K8 Klinisk neurovetenskap, K8 Neuro Ingvar, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Cabrera
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, K8 Klinisk neurovetenskap, K8 Neuro Ingvar, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Olsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, K8 Klinisk neurovetenskap, K8 Neuro Ingvar, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Ingvar
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, K8 Klinisk neurovetenskap, K8 Neuro Ingvar, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A V Lebedev
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, K8 Klinisk neurovetenskap, K8 Neuro Ingvar, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - P Petrovic
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, K8 Klinisk neurovetenskap, K8 Neuro Ingvar, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
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Jayakumar S, Ilango S, Kumar K S, Alassaf A, Aljabr A, Paramasivam A, Mickeymaray S, Hawsah YM, Aldawish AS. Contrasting Association Between COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Mental Health Status in India and Saudi Arabia-A Preliminary Evidence Collected During the Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:900026. [PMID: 35602514 PMCID: PMC9116149 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.900026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Vaccine hesitancy is a global public health threat. Understanding the role of psychological factors in vaccine hesitancy is often neglected and relatively less explored. Aim and Objectives To analyze the relationship between mental health and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy before and after the advent of COVID-19 vaccines (AC19V) in the general population of India and Saudi Arabia (KSA) which vary in severity of the pandemic and vaccine mandates. Materials and Methods A total of 677 adult participants from India and KSA participated in this cross-sectional online web-based survey. Sociodemographic details and current COVID-19 status pertaining to infection and vaccination were collected. Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and perceptive need for mental health support (MHS) were assessed before and after AC19V. A newly constructed and validated COVID19 vaccine hesitancy scale-12 (COVID19-VHS12) scale was used to evaluate the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Results Prevalence and levels of depression and anxiety symptoms decreased significantly in Saudis but not in Indians after AC19V. PTSD symptoms showed a significant reduction in both India and KSA. Anxiety symptoms were higher in KSA than India before AC19V while PTSD was higher in India before and after AC19V. Except for the place of residence and employment status, the subgroups of sociodemographic variables which were at higher risk of negative mental health before AC19V showed improvement in their mental health after AC19V. The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in India and KSA was 50.8% (95% CI 45.73–55.89%) and 55.7% (95% CI 50.16–61.31%), respectively. A bidirectional association between vaccine hesitancy and mental health was observed in KSA but not in India. Higher vaccine hesitancy favored higher levels of depression, anxiety, and perceptive need for MHS and vice versa in KSA. None of the mental health parameters predicted vaccine hesitancy in India, while higher vaccine hesitancy increased the risk of anxiety. Conclusion Vaccine hesitancy has a negative impact on mental health and vice versa over and above the impact of sociodemographic factors and COVID-19 vaccination and infection status which shows variations between India and KSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikarthik Jayakumar
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Medical Education, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saraswathi Ilango
- Department of Physiology, Madha Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, India
| | - Senthil Kumar K
- Department of Physiology, Madha Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, India
| | - Abdullah Alassaf
- Department of Preventive Dental Science, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Aljabr
- Department of Medical Education, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anand Paramasivam
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Medical Education, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University, Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suresh Mickeymaray
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Majmaah University, Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia
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Determinants of the Hesitancy toward COVID-19 Vaccination in Eastern European Countries and the Relationship with Health and Vaccine Literacy: A Literature Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10050672. [PMID: 35632428 PMCID: PMC9146656 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10050672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Herd immunity is necessary to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, a low proportion of vaccinated people and low levels of vaccine acceptance have been noted in Eastern Europe. Our paper aimed to review the central attitudes associated with the hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination specific to Eastern European countries. The main Eastern European determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance identified from the included studies are: public confidence in the vaccines’ safety and efficacy, vaccine literacy, and public trust in the government and the medical system. Each of these determinants is discussed along with possible improvement measures. Variables specific to Eastern Europe that predict the willingness to vaccinate have also been highlighted. The specific attitudes and their context as identified by our review should be incorporated into local public health programs, with the ultimate goal of reducing viral spreading, mutation emergence, and COVID-19 morbidity and mortality both within the borders of Eastern Europe and beyond.
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11
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Betta S, Castellini G, Acampora M, Barello S. The Effect of Message Framing on COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions among the Younger Age Population Groups: Results from an Experimental Study in the Italian Context. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10040559. [PMID: 35455307 PMCID: PMC9031119 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10040559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus pandemic has been recognized as a major threat to public health. Widespread acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines is crucial for achieving adequate immunization coverage to end the global pandemic. However, to date, there are still hesitant people, especially among the younger population groups. For this reason, it is essential to identify the psychological variables that may affect vaccination intention among these “at risk groups” and to select possible successful communication frames in order to increase vaccination rates. An online cross-sectional survey was carried out on 208 Italian citizens younger than 50 years old, to explore message framing effects on their intention to receive the vaccination and to understand the psychological factors influencing it. Results showed that depending on the goal (stimulate vaccination intention, vaccination trust, or vaccine attitude), not all the communication stimuli are equally effective on this target population. Furthermore, the study showed that sociodemographic variables do not help to explain the vaccination intention of the younger population groups, while the psychological variables have been found to have a stronger impact on such attitude. Trust and attitudes towards vaccines, concern about the pandemic and concern about infecting others have been found to be the most effective predictive variables of people vaccination intention. The study results underline the importance of understanding the psychological roots behind vaccine hesitancy to shape sensitization actions and vaccination campaigns targeting this population group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Betta
- EngageMinds HUB—Consumer, Food & Health Engagement Research Center, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy; (S.B.); (M.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Greta Castellini
- EngageMinds HUB—Consumer, Food & Health Engagement Research Center, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy; (S.B.); (M.A.); (S.B.)
- Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Milano 24, 26100 Cremona, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Marta Acampora
- EngageMinds HUB—Consumer, Food & Health Engagement Research Center, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy; (S.B.); (M.A.); (S.B.)
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, L.go Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Barello
- EngageMinds HUB—Consumer, Food & Health Engagement Research Center, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy; (S.B.); (M.A.); (S.B.)
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, L.go Gemelli 1, 20123 Milan, Italy
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Ripp T, Röer JP. Systematic review on the association of COVID-19-related conspiracy belief with infection-preventive behavior and vaccination willingness. BMC Psychol 2022; 10:66. [PMID: 35292110 PMCID: PMC8923094 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-022-00771-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In times of a pandemic, not only infections but also conspiracy narratives spread among people. These have the potential to influence the course of the pandemic. Here we summarize and critically evaluate studies from the first year of the pandemic presenting findings on the association between COVID-19-related conspiracy belief and infection-preventive behavior and vaccination willingness. METHOD A systematic literature search was conducted using the databases COVID-19 Data Portal, APA PsycArticles, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Scopus, and PubMed. After removing duplicates, studies meeting the previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria were subjected to title and abstract screening and content reviewed and analyzed subsequently. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION The systematic literature search yielded 17 studies meeting our pre-specified inclusion criteria. Twelve studies examined infection-preventive behavior (N = 16,485), and ten studies vaccination willingness (N = 20,210). In summary, belief in COVID-19-related conspiracy narratives was negatively associated with vaccination willingness and infection-preventive behavior. The results point to the importance of the content of the conspiracy narratives. Various explanatory approaches and possible moderator variables are discussed, referencing the state of research on conspiracy beliefs and health-related preventive behavior after the first year of the pandemic. We argue that future studies should strive for a consistent operationalization and use of the term conspiracy belief.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilli Ripp
- Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50, 58455, Witten, Germany
| | - Jan Philipp Röer
- Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50, 58455, Witten, Germany.
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Gutiérrez-Jara JP, Saracini C. Risk Perception Influence on Vaccination Program on COVID-19 in Chile: A Mathematical Model. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042022. [PMID: 35206210 PMCID: PMC8872476 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus emergency prompted unprecedented safety measures, which were accepted by the population of each country to different degrees, for example, with more or less willingness to use personal protective elements (PPEs). We have developed a mathematical model of the contagion process, based on chilean data, to assess the interaction between biological factors (such as the impact of vaccination) and behavioral factors (such as the population’s perception of risk). The model clearly shows that the virus spreads through three waves of contagion, the second being the most prominent, regardless of any alteration in the variables taken into account, which only affect the overall number of people infected. By considering alternative values of the risk perception variable and examining the different possible scenarios, we have also found that the less reaction to change the population has (and the lower the disposition to use PPEs), the higher the waves of contagion and the death toll are.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Gutiérrez-Jara
- Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule (CIEAM), Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3480112, Chile
- Correspondence: (J.P.G.-J.); (C.S.)
| | - Chiara Saracini
- Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule (CIEAM), Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Postgrado, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3480112, Chile
- Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicologia y Neurociencias Cognitivas (CINPSI Neurocog), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3480112, Chile
- Correspondence: (J.P.G.-J.); (C.S.)
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Sallam M, Al-Sanafi M, Sallam M. A Global Map of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Rates per Country: An Updated Concise Narrative Review. J Multidiscip Healthc 2022; 15:21-45. [PMID: 35046661 PMCID: PMC8760993 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s347669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The delay or refusal of vaccination, which defines vaccine hesitancy, is a major challenge to successful control of COVID-19 epidemic. The huge number of publications addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy necessitates periodic review to provide a concise summary of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates worldwide. In the current narrative review, data on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates were retrieved from surveys in 114 countries/territories. In East and Southern Africa (n = 9), the highest COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate was reported in Ethiopia (92%), while the lowest rate was reported in Zimbabwe (50%). In West/Central Africa (n = 13), the highest rate was reported in Niger (93%), while the lowest rate was reported in Cameroon (15%). In Asia and the Pacific (n = 16), the highest rates were reported in Nepal and Vietnam (97%), while the lowest rate was reported in Hong Kong (42%). In Eastern Europe/Central Asia (n = 7), the highest rates were reported in Montenegro (69%) and Kazakhstan (64%), while the lowest rate was reported in Russia (30%). In Latin America and the Caribbean (n = 20), the highest rate was reported in Mexico (88%), while the lowest rate was reported in Haiti (43%). In the Middle East/North Africa (MENA, n = 22), the highest rate was reported in Tunisia (92%), while the lowest rate was reported in Iraq (13%). In Western/Central Europe and North America (n = 27), the highest rates were reported in Canada (91%) and Norway (89%), while the lowest rates were reported in Cyprus and Portugal (35%). COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates ≥60% were seen in 72/114 countries/territories, compared to 42 countries/territories with rates between 13% and 59%. The phenomenon of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy appeared more pronounced in the MENA, Europe and Central Asia, and Western/Central Africa. More studies are recommended in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia to address intentions of the general public to get COVID-19 vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malik Sallam
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
- Department of Clinical Laboratories and Forensic Medicine, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan
- Department of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Mariam Al-Sanafi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, College of Health Sciences, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Mohammed Sallam
- Department of Pharmacy, Mediclinic Welcare Hospital, Mediclinic Middle East, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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