The fear factor: examining the impact of fear on vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs.

OBJECTIVES

While anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs can reduce vaccine intentions, longitudinal research shows that vaccine hesitancy can increase conspiracy beliefs. In three experiments ( = 949), we examined the effect of fear about a vaccine on vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs.

METHOD AND MEASURES

In Studies 1a ( = 221) and 1b ( = 508), participants were exposed to high fear ( low fear) about a (fictional) vaccine before reporting vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs. In Study 2, all participants were exposed to high fear before being asked to think about getting vaccinated ( vaccinated) against the (fictional) disease. Participants then reported their vaccine hesitancy, anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs, and closeness to others who distrust official narratives.

RESULTS

In Studies 1a and 1b, exposure to high fear ( low fear) increased vaccine hesitancy, which was positively correlated with anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs. The reverse model's effect was either smaller (Study 1a) or non-significant (Study 1b). In Study 2, fear and not wanting to vaccinate resulted in vaccine hesitancy, which then predicted anti-vaccine conspiracy beliefs and feeling closer to those distrusting official narratives.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, fear creates a response not to get vaccinated. A conspiracy belief may then this response.