Willingness to Vaccinate Against COVID-19: The Role of Health Locus of Control and Conspiracy Theories

Vojtech Pisl; Jan Volavka; Edita Chvojkova; Katerina Cechova; Katerina Cechova; Gabriela Kavalirova; Jan Vevera; Jan Vevera

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.717960

Frontiers in Psychology (Oct 2021)

Willingness to Vaccinate Against COVID-19: The Role of Health Locus of Control and Conspiracy Theories

Vojtech Pisl,
Jan Volavka,
Edita Chvojkova,
Katerina Cechova,
Katerina Cechova,
Gabriela Kavalirova,
Jan Vevera,
Jan Vevera

Affiliations

Vojtech Pisl: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czechia
Jan Volavka: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czechia
Edita Chvojkova: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
Katerina Cechova: Memory Clinic, Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine, Motol University Hospital, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
Katerina Cechova: International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
Gabriela Kavalirova: Center of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Education, University of West Bohemia, Pilsen, Czechia
Jan Vevera: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University, Pilsen, Czechia
Jan Vevera: Institute for Postgraduate Medical Education, Prague, Czechia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.717960
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

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Understanding the predictors of the willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 may aid in the resolution of current and future pandemics. We investigate how the readiness to believe conspiracy theories and the three dimensions of health locus of control (HLOC) affect the attitude toward vaccination. A cross-sectional study was conducted based on the data from an online survey of a sample of Czech university students (n = 866) collected in January 2021, using the multivariate linear regression models and moderation analysis. The results found that 60% of Czech students wanted to get vaccinated against COVID-19. In addition, 40% of the variance of willingness to get vaccinated was explained by the belief in the COVID-19-related conspiracy theories and the powerful others dimension of HLOC. One-sixth of the variance of the willingness to get vaccinated was explained by HLOC, cognitive reflection, and digital health literacy [eHealth Literacy Scale (EHEALS)]. HLOC and conspiracy mentality (CM) and its predictors are valid predictors of a hesitancy to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The campaigns promoting vaccination should target the groups specifically vulnerable to the conspiracy theories and lacking HLOC related to powerful others.

Published in Frontiers in Psychology

ISSN: 1664-1078 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology

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