IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v12y2025i1d10.1057_s41599-025-04834-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Individual voices, collective health: a person-centered cross-sectional study to identify psychological drivers of vaccination attitudes

Author

Listed:
  • Giansanto Mosconi

    (University of Pavia)

  • Serena Barello

    (University of Pavia
    IRCCS Mondino Foundation)

  • Paola Bertuccio

    (University of Pavia)

  • Marcello Fiorentino

    (University of Pavia)

  • Tomaso Vecchi

    (University of Pavia
    IRCCS Mondino Foundation)

  • Anna Odone

    (University of Pavia
    Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo)

Abstract

Although existing research identifies different profiles of vaccine-hesitant individuals, most studies focus on isolated psychological constructs, neglecting their interplay in shaping vaccination attitudes. Using data from an online survey of a representative sample of Italian adults, we examined vaccination attitudes through a person-centered methodology. We selected personal values, attitudes, and beliefs for their potential relevance to vaccination attitudes and conducted an exploratory factor analysis to reveal the latent relationships among these variables. This approach allowed us to identify four underlying psychological drivers: Eco-humanism (altruistic/biospheric values and connectedness to nature), Skeptical Perspective (distrust in science, conspiracy mentality, and spirituality), Goal-Driven Positive Mindset (hope and optimism), and Self-Centered Attitude (hedonic/egoistic values). We then assessed how adherence to each driver related to vaccination attitudes, as measured by the VAX-I scale, using multiple linear and quantile regression models. Results showed that higher adherence to Eco-humanism resulted in more positive vaccination attitudes, particularly lower mistrust in vaccine benefits and reduced concerns about pharmaceutical companies’ profiteering. In contrast, a stronger alignment with the Skeptical Perspective was linked to more negative attitudes, including increased mistrust in vaccine benefits, heightened concerns about vaccine safety and pharmaceutical companies’ profiteering, and a greater preference for natural immunity. Likewise, higher adherence to Self-Centered Attitude was tied to an overall more negative stance, particularly marked by amplified worries about unforeseen long-term effects, heightened concerns about pharmaceutical companies’ profiteering, and an increased preference for natural immunity. Goal-Driven Positive Mindset, although not significantly associated with overall vaccination attitudes, was inversely related to mistrust in vaccine benefits. These findings suggest that vaccination attitudes are shaped by distinct psychological profiles, supporting the development of tailored, human-centered vaccine promotion strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Giansanto Mosconi & Serena Barello & Paola Bertuccio & Marcello Fiorentino & Tomaso Vecchi & Anna Odone, 2025. "Individual voices, collective health: a person-centered cross-sectional study to identify psychological drivers of vaccination attitudes," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04834-8
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-04834-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-04834-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-025-04834-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ford, R.M. & Anderson, N.M. & Nitschke, C. & Bennett, L.T. & Williams, K.J.H., 2017. "Psychological values and cues as a basis for developing socially relevant criteria and indicators for forest management," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 141-150.
    2. John Zelenski & Sara Warber & Jake M. Robinson & Alan C. Logan & Susan L. Prescott, 2023. "Nature Connection: Providing a Pathway from Personal to Planetary Health," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Patrick Sturgis & Ian Brunton-Smith & Jonathan Jackson, 2021. "Trust in science, social consensus and vaccine confidence," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(11), pages 1528-1534, November.
    4. Vanessa Woods & Melinda Knuth, 2023. "The Biophilia Reactivity Hypothesis: biophilia as a temperament trait, or more precisely, a domain specific attraction to biodiversity," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 271-293, December.
    5. Prislin, R. & Dyer, J.A. & Blakely, C.H. & Johnson, C.D., 1998. "Immunization status and sociodemographic characteristics: The mediating role of beliefs, attitudes, and perceived control," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 88(12), pages 1821-1826.
    6. Alexander Neaman & Pamela Pensini & Sarah Zabel & Siegmar Otto & Dmitry S. Ermakov & Elvira A. Dovletyarova & Elliot Burnham & Mónica Castro & Claudia Navarro-Villarroel, 2022. "The Prosocial Driver of Ecological Behavior: The Need for an Integrated Approach to Prosocial and Environmental Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, April.
    7. Suzanne C. Makarem & Michael F. Smith & Susan M. Mudambi & James M. Hunt, 2014. "Why People Do Not Always Follow the Doctor's Orders: The Role of Hope and Perceived Control," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(3), pages 457-485, October.
    8. Marc Debus & Jale Tosun, 2021. "Political ideology and vaccination willingness: implications for policy design," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(3), pages 477-491, September.
    9. Daphne Bussink-Voorend & Jeannine L. A. Hautvast & Lisa Vandeberg & Olga Visser & Marlies E. J. L. Hulscher, 2022. "A systematic literature review to clarify the concept of vaccine hesitancy," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(12), pages 1634-1648, December.
    10. Thijs Bouman & Linda Steg & Thomas Dietz, 2021. "Insights from early COVID-19 responses about promoting sustainable action," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(3), pages 194-200, March.
    11. Sarah C Klain & Paige Olmsted & Kai M A Chan & Terre Satterfield, 2017. "Relational values resonate broadly and differently than intrinsic or instrumental values, or the New Ecological Paradigm," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-21, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Seungwoo Han, 2024. "Trust and needles: how perceptions of inequality shape vaccination in South Korea," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Chapman, Mollie & Satterfield, Terre & Chan, Kai M.A., 2019. "When value conflicts are barriers: Can relational values help explain farmer participation in conservation incentive programs?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 464-475.
    3. Gregg C. Brill & Pippin M. L. Anderson & Patrick O’Farrell, 2022. "Relational Values of Cultural Ecosystem Services in an Urban Conservation Area: The Case of Table Mountain National Park, South Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-28, April.
    4. Narae Kim & Jeong-Nam Kim, 2024. "A COVID-19 Paradox of Communication, Ignorance, and Vaccination Intention," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, September.
    5. Sukayna Younger-Khan & Nils B. Weidmann & Lisa Oswald, 2024. "Consistent effects of science and scientist characteristics on public trust across political regimes," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Amy Phillips & Ahmed Z. Khan & Frank Canters, 2021. "Use-Related and Socio-Demographic Variations in Urban Green Space Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-22, March.
    7. Chapman, Mollie & Satterfield, Terre & Wittman, Hannah & Chan, Kai M.A., 2020. "A payment by any other name: Is Costa Rica’s PES a payment for services or a support for stewards?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    8. Marco Clari & Alessandro Godono & Beatrice Albanesi & Elena Casabona & Rosanna Irene Comoretto & Ihab Mansour & Alessio Conti & Valerio Dimonte & Catalina Ciocan, 2022. "Choosing between Homologous or Heterologous COVID-19 Vaccination Regimens: A Cross-Sectional Study among the General Population in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-9, March.
    9. Niels G. Mede, 2022. "Legacy media as inhibitors and drivers of public reservations against science: global survey evidence on the link between media use and anti-science attitudes," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Kaiwen Su & Jie Ren & Chuyun Cui & Yilei Hou & Yali Wen, 2022. "Do Value Orientations and Beliefs Play a Positive Role in Shaping Personal Norms for Urban Green Space Conservation?," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15, February.
    11. Angerer, Silvia & Glätzle-Rützler, Daniela & Lergetporer, Philipp & Rittmannsberger, Thomas, 2023. "How does the vaccine approval procedure affect COVID-19 vaccination intentions?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    12. Lu, Steven Qiang & Vassallo, Jarrod P. & Choi, Ada & Li, Jia, 2024. "The role of political ideology on variety-seeking behavior during crisis-induced threats: Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 100(2), pages 166-185.
    13. Colette Konietzny & Jirka Konietzny & Albert Caruana, 2024. "Drivers of Pro-Ecological Behaviour Norms among Environmentalists, Hunters and the General Public," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-14, February.
    14. Amy Phillips & Ahmed Z. Khan & Frank Canters, 2021. "Use-related and socio-demographic variations in urban green space preferences," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/326192, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    15. Bliss, Sam & Egler, Megan, 2020. "Ecological Economics Beyond Markets," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    16. Nicole V. DeVille & Linda Powers Tomasso & Olivia P. Stoddard & Grete E. Wilt & Teresa H. Horton & Kathleen L. Wolf & Eric Brymer & Peter H. Kahn & Peter James, 2021. "Time Spent in Nature Is Associated with Increased Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-18, July.
    17. Dekila Chungyalpa & Pilar E. Gauthier & Robin I. Goldman & M. Vikas & Christine D. Wilson-Mendenhall, 2025. "A Framework for Deep Resilience in the Anthropocene," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 49-64, April.
    18. Hanaček, Ksenija & Langemeyer, Johannes & Bileva, Tatyana & Rodríguez-Labajos, Beatriz, 2021. "Understanding environmental conflicts through cultural ecosystem services - the case of agroecosystems in Bulgaria," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    19. Yu, Ling & Zhao, Pengjun & Tang, Junqing & Pang, Liang, 2023. "Changes in tourist mobility after COVID-19 outbreaks," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    20. Mark K. McBeth & Megan Warnement Wrobel & Irene van Woerden, 2023. "Political ideology and nuclear energy: Perception, proximity, and trust," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 40(1), pages 88-118, January.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-04834-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.