Why Some People Did Not Want to be Vaccinated against COVID-19? Analysis of Some Psychological Factors Connected with a Decision about Vaccination

Objective. The aim of the study was to assess some psychological factors that may be related to the attitude towards vaccination against COVID-19. Methods. The study involved 419 responders, including 317 people aged 36.10 ± 13.41 years who received vaccination against COVID-19 and 102 people aged 38.16 ± 12.33 years who decided not to be vaccinated. The study was conducted online in January-June 2022 in the Polish population. The following methods were used for the study: the generic conspiracist beliefs scale (GCBS), the perceived stress scale (PSS-10), and the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI-X2). Results. In the conspiracy beliefs questionnaire, an average score of 34.41 ± 12.95 points was obtained in the vaccinated group and in the unvaccinated group 48.67 ± 13.62 points. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). In the PSS-10 questionnaire, the vaccinated respondents obtained an average score of 19.55 ± 6.75 points, and in the unvaccinated group, the mean score was 18.44 ± 7 points. When comparing the two groups, no statistically significant differences were found. In the vaccinated group, the mean score was 46.96 ± 7.69 points in the state anxiety questionnaire (X2), and 45.85 ± 8.18 points in the unvaccinated group. There were no statistically significant differences between the study groups. Significant positive correlations were found in the results obtained in the conspiracy thinking scale (GCBS), the PSS-10 stress scale, and the anxiety scale as a personality trait (STAI-X2) in both study groups. Conclusions. People presenting conspiracy thinking may be more likely to show antivaccine attitudes compared to people not showing a tendency to this kind of thinking. Conspiracy thinking may not only be associated with a high level of anxiety as a personality trait but also with the level of experienced stress. In the group of unvaccinated people, stress was a significant predictor of conspiratorial thinking. In the group of vaccinated people, anxiety turned out to be a significant predictor of conspiracy thinking. Due to the presence of antivaccine groups, the task of the medical personnel is to educate the public. Moreover, extensive information campaigns are needed to promote vaccination safety in an accessible and understandable language.