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COVİD-19 Vaccine Hesitancy:The Mediating Role of Psychological and Political Factors

Year 2025, Volume: 40 Issue: 2, 596 - 614, 04.06.2025
https://doi.org/10.24988/ije.1514150

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the psycho-political factors (i.e., the sense of control loss, trust in authorities, conspiracy mentality, dichotomous thinking, and intolerance of uncertainty) underlying the vaccine hesitancy that may adversely affect the fight against pandemics such as COVID-19. The sample consisted of 209 university students (75.12%) and staff (24.88%). Participants completed a package of questionnaires, including Vaccine Hesitancy Scale, Dichotomous Thinking Inventory, Conspiracy Mentality Questionnaire, alongside with questions aimed to measure Trust in Authorities, and Loss of Control during pandemic. The results of serial mediational analysis showed that the sense of control loss during pandemic led to vaccine hesitancy via distrust in authorities, conspiracy mentality, and dichotomous thinking. These results indicate the need to take measures to reduce ambiguity in public communications and to build trust between the authorities and the public in order to maintain a psychologically and politically healthy environment.

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COVID-19 Aşı Kararsızlığı: Psikolojik ve Siyasi Faktörlerin Aracı Rolü

Year 2025, Volume: 40 Issue: 2, 596 - 614, 04.06.2025
https://doi.org/10.24988/ije.1514150

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, COVID-19 gibi pandemilerle mücadeleyi olumsuz etkileyebilecek aşı kararsızlığının altında yatan kontrol kaybı hissi, otoritelere güven, komplo zihniyeti, ikili düşünme ve belirsizliğe tahammülsüzlük gibi psiko-politik faktörleri araştırmaktır. Örneklem 209 üniversite öğrencisi (%75,12) ve personelinden (%24,88) oluşmaktadır. Katılımcılar, Aşı Kararsızlığı Ölçeği, İkili Düşünme Envanteri, Komplo Zihniyeti Anketi'nin yanı sıra Otoritelere Güven ve Pandemi Sırasında Kontrol Kaybını ölçmeyi amaçlayan soruları içeren bir anket paketini doldurmuştur. Seri aracılık analizi sonuçları, pandemi sırasında kontrol kaybı hissinin otoritelere güvensizlik, komplo zihniyeti ve ikili düşünme yoluyla aşı tereddütüne yol açtığını göstermiştir. Bu sonuçlar, psikolojik ve siyasi açıdan sağlıklı bir ortamın sürdürülebilmesi için kamu iletişiminde belirsizliği azaltacak ve yetkililer ile kamuoyu arasında güven tesis edecek önlemlerin alınması gerektiğine işaret etmektedir.

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Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Health Policy, Political Science (Other)
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Nilgün Türkileri Arman 0000-0002-0033-2748

Umut Yukaruç 0000-0001-9107-5961

Early Pub Date May 23, 2025
Publication Date June 4, 2025
Submission Date July 10, 2024
Acceptance Date February 1, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 40 Issue: 2

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APA Türkileri Arman, N., & Yukaruç, U. (2025). COVİD-19 Vaccine Hesitancy:The Mediating Role of Psychological and Political Factors. İzmir İktisat Dergisi, 40(2), 596-614. https://doi.org/10.24988/ije.1514150
İzmir Journal of Economics
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