Resistance to Persuasion: Examining the Influence of Political Ideology on COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Hesitancy

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the death of over 625,000 Americans and it continues to have monumental consequences worldwide for economic, social and individual life. An effective vaccine program is considered vital to securing collective immunity; yet, many Americans are still hesitant to be vaccinated. This two-part study first experimentally tests two message frames (inoculation vs control) designed to counter resistance to the COVID-19 vaccine with individuals who are initially supportive, neutral or opposed to it. Based on a key finding from Study 1 (that political ideology appears to be impacting receptiveness to the messaging), Study 2 examines response to these same two messages using either a politicized (Dr. Anthony Fauci) or neutral source to test the mediating effects of political ideology. Results contribute to existing literature by examining inoculation effects in a new context (“debunking” misinformation vs “prebunking” to bolster supportive attitudes), and demonstrate how psychological reactance is working in tandem with inoculation to influence attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine.

Predicting COVID‐19 booster vaccine intentions

“…As a consequence, interventionists may consider using messages that highlight the utility and benefits of getting the COVID‐19 vaccine booster, consistent with intervention research adopting behavior change techniques targeting attitude change (Hamilton & Johnson, 2020 ), as well as emphasizing the importance of significant others as advocates of getting a booster vaccine, consistent with studies adopting techniques targeting normative belief change (Hagger, Cameron, et al, 2020 ; Sheeran et al, 2016 ). Such an approach may also be more effective than attempts targeting change in stable, generalized beliefs, such as vaccine hesitancy, because it may minimize psychological reactance to challenges to entrenched, strongly valued beliefs (Brinson, 2022 ). However, given the study design we are loathe to make specific recommendations for intervention, as current data do not imply causal effects or model change in intentions.…”

“…Research has indicated that individuals with more conservative, right‐leaning political views are more likely to cite skepticism over COVID‐19 vaccines and less likely to state positive vaccination intentions and get vaccinated (e.g. Bilewicz & Soral, 2021 ; Brinson, 2022 ). Consistent with this prior research, political ideology would be expected to impact individuals' intentions to receive a booster vaccine, such that individuals with more conservative orientation would be less likely to intend to get a booster vaccine.…”

Psychological Inoculation for Credibility Assessment, Sharing Intention, and Discernment of Misinformation: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Major misinformation themes included health (k=15) and climate change (k=7), the mean participant age distribution was 18 to 48 years, and most studies were conducted in the United States (k=28). A total of 31 studies reported misinformation credibility assessment [ 7 , 13 , 14 , 16 , 22 - 24 , 26 - 28 , 39 - 48 ], 26 reported real information credibility assessment [ 1 , 7 , 14 - 16 , 22 - 24 , 27 , 41 - 43 , 49 - 54 ], 12 reported credibility discernment [ 7 , 23 , 24 , 27 , 41 ], 12 reported misinformation sharing intention [ 7 , 13 , 23 , 40 , 45 , 50 ], 11 reported real information sharing intention [ 7 , 23 , 51 , 55 ], and 8 studies reported sharing discernment [ 7 , 23 ].…”

“… Forest plot for the effects of psychological inoculation on real information sharing intention (k=11). Different studies in the same article are distinguished by an underscore and the numbers 1 to 6 [ 7 , 23 , 51 , 55 ]. SMD: standardized mean difference.…”

Feeling inspired and nostalgic: associations between media context-induced positive emotions and behavioral change among vaccine-hesitant individuals in the late stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Vaccine perceptions and behaviors have been intricately linked to American politics, making it a complex issue that moves beyond simple public health concerns (Baumgaertner et al , 2018). Research has found that ideological identification predicted COVID-19 vaccination in the USA (Brinson, 2022). For instance, in the first year of the pandemic, 52% of Democrats reported being willing to get the COVID-19 vaccines versus 26% of Republicans who were willing (SteelFisher et al , 2021).…”