Taeldeman Valentien, Paredis Maaike, Braekman Elise, Verhaegen Kirsten A, Bracke Piet, Delaruelle Katrijn
Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Prev Med. 2025 Aug;197:108325. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2025.108325. Epub 2025 May 28.
Given the significant public health challenge posed by vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have increasingly focused on understanding its underlying determinants. While previous research has paid attention to predisposing, enabling, and need factors the role of psychosocial factors remains less understood. This study examines COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among older adults in Europe, specifically in relation to living alone, social isolation, and loneliness as distinct factors. Additionally, it considers potential cross-country variations in these effects, in relation to differences in policy stringency.
Using data from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and SHARE Corona Surveys (2020-2021), this study analyses a sample of 36,890 adults aged 50 and above across 28 European countries and Israel. Two-level binomial logistic regression was employed.
Household composition, social isolation and loneliness among older adults related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. More specifically: older adults who (i) lived alone, (ii) were more socially isolated, and (iii) were more lonely, tended to be more hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19. These effects did not differ by policy stringency.
This study underscores the relevance of the absence of a partner, social isolation, and loneliness when addressing vaccine hesitancy in older adults. When implementing effective vaccination policies compassionate measures with sufficient attention for psychosocial factors are a necessity. Addressing the psychosocial roots of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is not just key to managing current COVID-19 risks, but a blueprint for a more resilient and inclusive approach to future health crises.
鉴于新冠疫情期间疫苗犹豫带来的重大公共卫生挑战，研究人员越来越关注了解其潜在决定因素。虽然先前的研究关注了 predisposing、enabling 和需求因素，但心理社会因素的作用仍鲜为人知。本研究调查了欧洲老年人对新冠疫苗的犹豫情况，特别是将独居、社会隔离和孤独作为不同因素进行研究。此外，还考虑了这些影响在不同国家间的潜在差异，以及政策严格程度的差异。
利用欧洲健康、老龄化和退休调查（SHARE）以及 SHARE 新冠调查（2020 - 2021 年）的数据，本研究分析了来自 28 个欧洲国家和以色列的 36890 名 50 岁及以上成年人的样本。采用二级二项逻辑回归分析。
老年人的家庭构成、社会隔离和孤独与新冠疫苗犹豫有关。更具体地说：（i）独居、（ii）社会隔离程度更高、（iii）更孤独的老年人往往更犹豫是否接种新冠疫苗。这些影响在不同政策严格程度下并无差异。
本研究强调了在解决老年人疫苗犹豫问题时，伴侣缺失、社会隔离和孤独的相关性。在实施有效疫苗接种政策时，必须采取富有同情心的措施并充分关注心理社会因素。解决新冠疫苗犹豫的心理社会根源不仅是管理当前新冠风险的关键，也是应对未来健康危机更具韧性和包容性方法的蓝图。
