Trust Me, I'm Not a Scientist (Or a Politician): Vaccine Hesitancy and the Psychology of Distrust

Overview

Paper Summary › Explain Like I'm Five › Conflicts of Interest › Identified Limitations › Rating Explanation › Good to know › Topic Hierarchy › File Information ›

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title

Vaccine hesitancy and resistance were found in substantial portions of the Irish and UK populations, with similar psychological profiles in both countries. Vaccine-hesitant/resistant individuals were more self-interested, distrustful of authority, and likely to hold conspiratorial and religious beliefs, compared to those willing to accept a vaccine.

Explain Like I'm Five

Scientists found that some people who didn't want the COVID vaccine often didn't trust leaders. They also tended to think mostly about themselves and believed in secret plots or very strong religious ideas.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified

Identified Limitations

Sampling Bias

The study employed a non-probability-based sampling method via the internet, which can introduce bias and limit the generalizability of the findings.

Limited Timeframe

The data were collected during the first week of the strictest lockdown measures in Ireland and the UK, impacting external validity. Vaccine views may have shifted since.

Hypothetical Scenario

Questions focused on a hypothetical COVID-19 vaccine, so it remains unclear how participants would react to a real vaccine with known efficacies and risks.

Limited Generalizability

The study only included two Western European countries, limiting the generalizability of findings to other regions and cultures.

Exclusion of Key Groups

Certain subpopulations like institutionalized individuals and those with limited internet access were excluded, further restricting the generalizability.

Rating Explanation

This study uses robust methodology with a large sample size and investigates a timely and important topic. Despite certain limitations concerning generalizability and the use of a hypothetical vaccine, the findings offer valuable insights into the psychological factors underlying vaccine hesitancy, which can help inform public health strategies. The lack of clear conflicts of interest further supports the rating.

Good to know

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Topic Hierarchy

Domain: Social Sciences

Field: Social Sciences

Subfield: Health

File Information

Original Title: Psychological characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance in Ireland and the United Kingdom

Uploaded: July 14, 2025 at 10:59 AM

Privacy: Public