Barriers and facilitators of willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19: Role of prosociality, authoritarianism and conspiracy mentality. A four-wave longitudinal study. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oleksy, Tomasz; Wnuk, Anna; Gambin, Małgorzata; Łyś, Agnieszka; Bargiel-Matusiewicz, Kamilla; Pisula, Ewa
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 190(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Prosociality -- Conspiracy mentality -- Right-Wing Authoritarianism -- Vaccine hesitation -- Vaccination intentions -- Longitudinal study; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111524
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: We investigated longitudinal relations between individual willingness to undergo vaccination against COVID-19 and three social factors: conspiracy mentality, prosociality, and authoritarianism. Method: This longitudinal study comprised four measurement points. The first wave sample included 1130 responses and was representative of the Polish population in terms of gender, age, and place of residence. Analyses were performed using random intercept cross-lagged panel models. Results: We observed bidirectional positive cross-lagged relationships between prosociality and willingness to undergo vaccination in the first three waves of measurement. Authoritarianism and conspiracy mentality translated into a lower willingness to vaccinate between the third and fourth points of measurement when the vaccination became a near-term possibility. Conclusions: Eliciting prosocial motivation to vaccinate can be paramount in overcoming vaccine hesitancy. Because conspiracy thinking may be a crucial barrier to willingness to be vaccinated, it is critical to focus on planning interventions and campaigns undermining conspiracy theories about COVID-19. Highlights: We conducted longitudinal study of vaccine hesitancy. Analyses were performed using random-intercept cross-lagged panel models. Bidirectional positive cross-lagged relationships between prosociality and willingness to undergo vaccination was observed. Authoritarianism and conspiracy mentality translated into a lower willingness to undergo vaccination