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Sociodemographic correlates of vaccine hesitancy in the United States and the mediating role of beliefs about governmental conspiracies

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  • Samuel Stroope
  • Rhiannon A. Kroeger
  • Courtney E. Williams
  • Joseph O. Baker

Abstract

Objective Vaccine hesitancy remains a significant public health challenge, and one that is socially patterned. This study examined whether the vaccine hesitancy effects of identifying as female, race–ethnicity, the number of children, educational attainment, and political conservatism were mediated by governmental conspiracy beliefs. Methods Linear mediation models controlling for potential confounders were employed to analyze data from a national survey of adults (2019 Chapman University Survey of American Fears; n = 1,209). Results Effects on vaccine hesitancy were significant and negative for educational attainment, and significant and positive for the other focal predictors. Governmental conspiracy beliefs significantly mediated each of these effects; the percent mediated was largest for Hispanic identity (79 percent), followed by female identification (69 percent), educational attainment (69 percent), number of children (55 percent), black identification (34 percent), and political conservatism (30 percent). Conclusion This study underscores the importance of nonvaccine‐related conspiracy beliefs for future interventions aimed at reducing sociodemographic disparities in vaccine hesitancy.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel Stroope & Rhiannon A. Kroeger & Courtney E. Williams & Joseph O. Baker, 2021. "Sociodemographic correlates of vaccine hesitancy in the United States and the mediating role of beliefs about governmental conspiracies," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(6), pages 2472-2481, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:102:y:2021:i:6:p:2472-2481
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.13081
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. William Paul Simmons & Sharon Parsons, 2005. "Beliefs in Conspiracy Theories Among African Americans: A Comparison of Elites and Masses," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 86(3), pages 582-598, September.
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    5. Jamison, Amelia M. & Quinn, Sandra Crouse & Freimuth, Vicki S., 2019. "“You don't trust a government vaccine”: Narratives of institutional trust and influenza vaccination among African American and white adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 87-94.
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    Cited by:

    1. Stoler, Justin & Klofstad, Casey A. & Enders, Adam M. & Uscinski, Joseph E., 2022. "Sociopolitical and psychological correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the United States during summer 2021," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    2. John Iceland & Eric Silver & Kerby Goff, 2023. "Moral intuitions and vaccine hesitancy during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 104(3), pages 230-247, May.
    3. Choi, Yongjin & Fox, Ashley M., 2022. "Mistrust in public health institutions is a stronger predictor of vaccine hesitancy and uptake than Trust in Trump," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).

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