Psychological reactance, misinformation, and distrust: A mixed methods analysis of COVID-19 vaccine uptake
Abstract Background: Assessing perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccines is essential for understanding vaccine hesitancy and for improving uptake during public health emergencies. In the complicated landscape of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and rampant misinformation, many individuals faced challenges du...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866124000153/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797258584252219392 |
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| author | Lily Huang Todd R. Huschka Amelia K. Barwise Jay-Sheree P. Allen Wendy Wolfersteig Kathryn Hamm Lilliana D. Cardenas Sean M. Phelan Megan A. Allyse |
| author_facet | Lily Huang Todd R. Huschka Amelia K. Barwise Jay-Sheree P. Allen Wendy Wolfersteig Kathryn Hamm Lilliana D. Cardenas Sean M. Phelan Megan A. Allyse |
| author_sort | Lily Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Abstract
Background:
Assessing perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccines is essential for understanding vaccine hesitancy and for improving uptake during public health emergencies. In the complicated landscape of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and rampant misinformation, many individuals faced challenges during vaccination decision-making. The purpose of our mixed methods study is to elucidate factors affecting vaccine decision-making and to highlight the discourse surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines in diverse and underserved communities.
Methods:
This mixed methods study was conducted in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin between March and November 2021, combining a cross-sectional survey (n = 3593) and focus groups (n = 47).
Results:
The groups least likely to report receiving a vaccination were non-Hispanic Whites, Indigenous people, males, and those with moderate socioeconomic status (SES). Those indicating high and low SES reported similar vaccination uptake. Focus group data highlighted resistance to mandates, distrust, misinformation, and concerns about the rapid development surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines. Psychological reactance theory posits that strongly persuasive messaging and social pressure can be perceived as a threat to freedom, encouraging an individual to take action to restore that freedom.
Conclusion:
Our findings indicate that a subsection of participants felt pressured to get the vaccine, which led to weaker intentions to vaccinate. These results suggest that vaccine rollout strategies should be reevaluated to improve and facilitate informed decision-making.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:38:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3dfee613be294b0eb92a7ed7b612368b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2059-8661 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:55:51Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-3dfee613be294b0eb92a7ed7b612368b2024-03-18T06:13:56ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Clinical and Translational Science2059-86612024-01-01810.1017/cts.2024.15Psychological reactance, misinformation, and distrust: A mixed methods analysis of COVID-19 vaccine uptakeLily Huang0Todd R. Huschka1Amelia K. Barwise2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9267-1298Jay-Sheree P. Allen3Wendy Wolfersteig4Kathryn Hamm5Lilliana D. Cardenas6Sean M. Phelan7Megan A. Allyse8https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6136-9256Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USARobert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USAProgram in Biomedical Ethics Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USADivision of Public Health, Infectious Diseases, and Occupational Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USASouthwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USASouthwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USAMaricopa County Department of Public Health, Phoenix, AZ, USARobert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USADepartment of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA Program in Biomedical Ethics Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA Abstract Background: Assessing perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccines is essential for understanding vaccine hesitancy and for improving uptake during public health emergencies. In the complicated landscape of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and rampant misinformation, many individuals faced challenges during vaccination decision-making. The purpose of our mixed methods study is to elucidate factors affecting vaccine decision-making and to highlight the discourse surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines in diverse and underserved communities. Methods: This mixed methods study was conducted in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, and Wisconsin between March and November 2021, combining a cross-sectional survey (n = 3593) and focus groups (n = 47). Results: The groups least likely to report receiving a vaccination were non-Hispanic Whites, Indigenous people, males, and those with moderate socioeconomic status (SES). Those indicating high and low SES reported similar vaccination uptake. Focus group data highlighted resistance to mandates, distrust, misinformation, and concerns about the rapid development surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines. Psychological reactance theory posits that strongly persuasive messaging and social pressure can be perceived as a threat to freedom, encouraging an individual to take action to restore that freedom. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that a subsection of participants felt pressured to get the vaccine, which led to weaker intentions to vaccinate. These results suggest that vaccine rollout strategies should be reevaluated to improve and facilitate informed decision-making. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866124000153/type/journal_articleCOVID-19vaccinationpsychological resistancesocial determinants of healthmixed methods |
| spellingShingle | Lily Huang Todd R. Huschka Amelia K. Barwise Jay-Sheree P. Allen Wendy Wolfersteig Kathryn Hamm Lilliana D. Cardenas Sean M. Phelan Megan A. Allyse Psychological reactance, misinformation, and distrust: A mixed methods analysis of COVID-19 vaccine uptake Journal of Clinical and Translational Science COVID-19 vaccination psychological resistance social determinants of health mixed methods |
| title | Psychological reactance, misinformation, and distrust: A mixed methods analysis of COVID-19 vaccine uptake |
| title_full | Psychological reactance, misinformation, and distrust: A mixed methods analysis of COVID-19 vaccine uptake |
| title_fullStr | Psychological reactance, misinformation, and distrust: A mixed methods analysis of COVID-19 vaccine uptake |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychological reactance, misinformation, and distrust: A mixed methods analysis of COVID-19 vaccine uptake |
| title_short | Psychological reactance, misinformation, and distrust: A mixed methods analysis of COVID-19 vaccine uptake |
| title_sort | psychological reactance misinformation and distrust a mixed methods analysis of covid 19 vaccine uptake |
| topic | COVID-19 vaccination psychological resistance social determinants of health mixed methods |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866124000153/type/journal_article |
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