The moderating role of trust in pandemic-relevant institutions on the relation between pandemic fatigue and vaccination intentions

Author(s)
David D Scholz, Martina Bader, Cornelia Betsch, Robert Böhm, Lau Lilleholt, Philipp Sprengholz, Ingo Zettler
Abstract

This research helps to clarify the relation between pandemic fatigue (PF) and vaccination intentions (VI). Theoretically, two patterns seem plausible. First, as with any other health protective measure, PF might reduce the motivation to get vaccinated. Second, PF might increase the motivation to get vaccinated because vaccination reduces the number of (other) health protective measure needed. We tested these two opposing predictions and further explored the moderating role of trust in pandemic-relevant institutions on the link between PF and VI in two large-scale survey studies from Denmark and Germany (collected between 2020 and 2021; total N > 22,000). Data was analyzed using multiple regression models. Analyses reveal a negative link between PF and VI that is less pronounced for people high in trust. Results remain stable when accounting for covariates and quadratic trends. Thus, trust might buffer the negative relation between PF and VI.

Organisation(s)
Department of Occupational, Economic and Social Psychology
External organisation(s)
University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universität Erfurt, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Central European University Vienna
Journal
Journal of Health Psychology
Volume
29
Pages
358-364
No. of pages
7
ISSN
1359-1053
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/13591053231201038
Publication date
2023
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
501021 Social psychology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Applied Psychology
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/the-moderating-role-of-trust-in-pandemicrelevant-institutions-on-the-relation-between-pandemic-fatigue-and-vaccination-intentions(85c7e316-14a6-4fea-a0c2-2d8e064fe97d).html