The aim of the study was to examine some overlooked individual difference (demography, ideology, ability) correlates of attitudes to being vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine. Six hundred and sixteen adults were asked about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The relationship between demographic (age, sex, education), ideology (political and religious beliefs), intelligence (cognitive ability) and attitudes to vaccination (acceptance, hesitancy, rejection) was examined. Correlations and regressions indicated that vaccine hesitancy and rejection were associated primarily with intelligence and political beliefs as well as mental illness history, as well as religious beliefs. Effect sizes were however small. Limitations are acknowledged.
References
[1]
Khubchandani, J., Sharma, S., Price, J.H., Wiblishauser, M.J., Sharma, M. and Webb, F.J. (2021) COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in the United States: A Rapid National Assessment. Journal of Community Health, 46, 270-277.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-020-00958-x
[2]
Murphy, J., et al. (2021) Psychological Characteristics Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Resistance in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Nature Communications, 12, Article No. 29. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20226-9
[3]
Lin, C., Tu, P. and Beitsch, L.M. (2021) Confidence and Receptivity for COVID-19 Vaccines: A Rapid Systematic Review. Vaccines, 9, 16.
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9010016
[4]
Habersaat, K.B. and Jackson, C. (2020) Understanding Vaccine Acceptance and Demand and Ways to Increase Them. Bundesgesundheitsblatt—Gesundheitsforschung, 63, 32-39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-019-03063-0
[5]
Hornsey, M.J., Harris, E.A. and Fielding, K.S. (2018) The Psychological Roots of Anti-Vaccination Attitudes: A 24-Nation Investigation. Health Psychology, 37, 307-315. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000586
[6]
Johnson, M.O. (2000) Personality Correlates of HIV Vaccine Trial Participation. Personality and Individual Differences, 29, 459-467.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00206-8
[7]
Patty, N.J., et al. (2017) To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate? Perspectives on HPV Vaccination among Girls, Boys, and Parents in the Netherlands: A Qmethodological Study. BMC Public Health, 17, Article No. 872.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4879-2
[8]
Alper, S., Bayrak, F. and Yilmaz, O. (2020) Psychological Correlates of COVID-19 Conspiracy Beliefs and Preventive Measures: Evidence from Turkey. Current Psychology, 41, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/mt3p4
[9]
Pummerer, L., Bohm, R., Lilleholt, L., Winter, K., Zettler, I. and Sassenberg, K. (2020) Conspiracy Theories and Their Societal Effects during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 13, 49-59.
https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/y5grn
[10]
Neumann-Bohme, S., et al. (2020) Once We Have It, Will We Use It? A European Survey on Willingness to Be Vaccinated against COVID-19. European Journal of Health Economy, 21, 997-982. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-020-01208-6
[11]
Edwards, B., Biddle, N., Gray, M. and Sollis, K. (2021) COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Resistance: Correlates in a Nationally Representative Longitudinal Survey of the Australian Population. PLoS ONE, 16, e0248892.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248892
[12]
Schwarzinger, M., Watson, V., Arwidson, P., Alla, F. and Luchini, S. (2021) COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in a Representative Working-Age Population in France: A Survey Experiment Based on Vaccine Characteristics. The Lancet Public Health, 6, e210-e221. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00012-8
[13]
Lalot, F., Heering, M.S., Rullo, M., Travaglino, G.A. and Abrams, D. (2020) The Dangers of Distrustful Complacency: Low Concern and Low Political Trust Combine to Undermine Compliance with Governmental Restrictions in the Emerging Covid-19 Pandemic. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 25.
[14]
Lazarus, J.V., Ratzan, S.C., Palayew, A., Gostin, L.O., Larson, H.J., Rabin, K., Kimball, S. and El-Mohandes, A. (2021) A Global Survey of Potential Acceptance of a COVID-19 Vaccine. Nature Medicine, 27, 225-228.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-1124-9
[15]
Haakonsen, J. and Furnham, A. (2022) COVID-19 Vaccination, Conspiracy Theories, and Ideology. Journal of Health Psychology. IN Press.
[16]
Wonderlic, E. (1990) Wonderlic Personnel Test. WP, Libertyville.
[17]
Eysenck, H. and Wilson, G. (1978) The Psychological Basis of Ideology. MTP Press, Lancaster.
