Conspiracy Beliefs and Acceptance of COVID-Vaccine: An Exploratory Study in Italy

Monica Pivetti, Giannino Melotti, Mariana Bonomo and Eemeli Hakoköngäs
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Monica Pivetti: Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, 24129 Bergamo, Italy
Giannino Melotti: Department of Education Studies «Giovanni Maria Bertin», EDU, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Mariana Bonomo: Department of Social and Developmental Psychology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória 29075-910, Brazil
Eemeli Hakoköngäs: Department of Social Sciences, Social Psychology, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland

Social Sciences, 2021, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: The availability of vaccines does not mean that people will be willing to get vaccinated. For example, different conspiracy beliefs on the adverse effects of vaccines may lead people to avoid collective health measures. This paper explores the role played by antecedents of COVID-related conspiracy beliefs, such as the role of political ideology and the endorsement of moral purity values, and the consequences of COVID-related conspiracy beliefs in terms of the acceptance of a COVID vaccine (when available) via structural equation modelling (SEM). A sample of 590 Italian participants filled in a questionnaire implemented using the Qualtrics.com platform, during the first Italian lockdown in April–May 2020. Results showed that endorsing purity values predicted stronger negative attitude towards COVID-vaccines. Moreover, conspiracy beliefs negatively predicted general attitudes toward vaccines. Faith in science negatively predicted general and COVID-related conspiracy beliefs, with those believing more in science also less endorsing general and COVID-related conspiracy beliefs. The attitudes towards the vaccines mediated the relationship between COVID-related conspiracy beliefs and attitudes towards COVID vaccine.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; attitudes; conspiracy beliefs; faith in science; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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