Predictors of the Intention to Be Vaccinated against COVID-19 in a Sample of Italian Respondents at the Start of the Immunization Campaign

COVID-19 vaccines are the most promising means of limiting the pandemic. The present study aims at determining the roles of several psychological variables in predicting vaccination intention in Italy. An online questionnaire was disseminated between 9 March and 9 May 2021. The sample included 971 participants. Results showed that most of the participants were willing to vaccinate. Acceptance rates were correlated with age, marital status, and area of residence. Intention to be vaccinated was positively correlated with perceived risk, pro-sociality, fear of COVID-19, use of preventive behaviors, and trust in government, in science, and in medical professionals. Intention to be vaccinated was negatively associated with belief in misinformation. The degree of acceptance is likely to be a result of the campaign tailored to address people’s negative attitudes towards vaccines. Trust in government and trust in science were among the strongest psychological predictors of vaccination intention. Fear of COVID-19, but not perceived risk, was associated with increased vaccine uptake, suggesting that the affective component of risk perception was more important than the cognitive component in predicting participants’ behaviors. Belief in misinformation was associated with reduced vaccination intention. Future studies will take into consideration these variables, to better understand the multifaceted process underlying vaccination intention.

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Willingness to Receive the COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza Vaccines among the Saudi Population and Vaccine Uptake During the Initial Stage of the National Vaccination Campaign: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9070765 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 765

Author(s):

Amel Ahmed Fayed ◽

Abeer Salem Al Shahrani ◽

Leenah Tawfiq Almanea ◽

Nardeen Ibrahim Alsweed ◽

Layla Mohammed Almarzoug ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Online Survey ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Vaccine Uptake ◽

Influenza Vaccines ◽

Vaccine Hesitancy ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

To Receive

This study aimed to assess the willingness to receive the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and seasonal influenza vaccines and vaccine uptake during the early stage of the national vaccination campaign in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among adult Saudis between 20 January and 20 March 2021. The questionnaire addressed vaccine hesitancy, perceived risk, willingness, and vaccine uptake. Approximately 39% of the participants expressed vaccine hesitancy, and 29.8% and 24% felt highly vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, respectively. The majority (59.5%) were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, although only 31.7% were willing to receive the flu vaccine. Adjusted analysis showed that vaccine hesitancy (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.27–0.43) and the perception of being at high risk (OR 2.78, 95% CI 1.68–4.60) independently affected the intention to be vaccinated. Vaccine hesitancy was similar among those who were willing to be vaccinated (29.8%) and those who had already been vaccinated (33.1%). The perceived risk was significantly higher among those who had been vaccinated (48.1%) than among those who were willing to be vaccinated but had not yet been vaccinated (29.1%). In conclusion, the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia is high. Saudis who received the vaccine had a similar level of vaccine hesitancy and a higher level of perceived risk.

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Teaching during the Pandemic: A Comparison in Psychological Wellbeing among Smart Working Professions

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13094850 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 4850

Author(s):

Emanuela Mari ◽

Giulia Lausi ◽

Angelo Fraschetti ◽

Alessandra Pizzo ◽

Michela Baldi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ad Hoc ◽

Well Being ◽

Total Sample ◽

Italian Population ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Psychological Variables ◽

Group Methods ◽

Random Probability ◽

Smart Working ◽

Restrictive Measures

Background: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, since March 2020, the Italian population was forced into lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus. The restrictive measures imposed forced many organizations and workers to work through online platforms and no longer in-person. Smart working, enjoyed by some workers for its flexibility, affected several professional categories. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in the psychological variables related to four groups of professional categories (practitioners, managers, executive employees, teachers), particularly the teachers group. Methods: A total sample of 628 individuals was recruited through a random probability sample across Italy. Due to the lockdown, an online questionnaire was developed; several validated scales were chosen, and some ad hoc constructed items related to the smart working experience were included. Results: The results showed statistically significant differences between the four groups of examined smart workers. Conclusions: All workers have had to readjust to this new way of working, but our results show that teachers were the most affected, both in the perception of their psychological well-being and in the management of the smart working mode.

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Psychological Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hungarian Adults

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17249565 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (24) ◽

pp. 9565

Author(s):

Csanád Szabó ◽

Judit Pukánszky ◽

Lajos Kemény

Keyword(s):

Perceived Stress ◽

Psychological Effects ◽

Measuring Instruments ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Variables ◽

Ways Of Coping ◽

General Anxiety Disorder ◽

General Anxiety ◽

Patient Health

We aimed to explore psychological effects of the coronavirus pandemic on Hungarian adults in the time of the national quarantine situation in May 2020.We conducted a cross-sectional observational study with the use of an anonymous online questionnaire that consisted of 65 items. The following measuring instruments were used: Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10); The General Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD)-2; The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-2; European Quality of Life Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS); Self-administered inventory of complaints (Hungarian questionnaire); Shortened (Hungarian) version of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire; 2 open-ended questions to examine the participants’ mood and ways of coping during the pandemic. The data of 431 participants were analyzed, their average age was 47.53 ± 11.66 years, and the percentage of females was 90%. The mean of participants’ scores were the following: 19.34 ± 7.97 for perceived stress, 73.05 ± 21.73 for health status, and 8.68 ± 4.65 for neurotic complaints. Thirty-four and one-tenth percent of participants were depressed, 36.2% were anxious, and they tended to use problem-focused coping strategies more frequently than emotion-focused ones. We found significant correlations between all of the seven examined psychological variables. Our results highlight the importance of stress management in the psychological support of healthy adults in quarantine situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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Negativity and Political Behavior: A Theoretical Framework for the Analysis of Negative Voting in Contemporary Democracies

Political Studies Review ◽

10.1177/14789299211000187 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 147892992110001

Author(s):

Diego Garzia ◽

Frederico Ferreira da Silva

Keyword(s):

Public Opinion ◽

Political Behavior ◽

Voting Behavior ◽

Theoretical Framework ◽

Negative Attitudes ◽

Affective Component ◽

Parliamentary Systems ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Rational Component

Recent developments in Western societies have motivated a growing consideration of the role of negativity in public opinion and political behavior research. In this article, we review the scant (and largely disconnected) scientific literature on negativity and political behavior, merging contributions from social psychology, public opinion, and electoral research, with a view on developing an integrated theoretical framework for the study of negative voting in contemporary democracies. We highlight that the tendency toward negative voting is driven by three partly overlapping components, namely, (1) an instrumental–rational component characterized by retrospective performance evaluations and rationalization mechanisms, (2) an ideological component grounded on long-lasting political identities, and (3) an affective component, motivated by (negative) attitudes toward parties and candidates. By blueprinting the systematic relationships between negative voting and each of these components in turn, and suggesting multiple research paths, this article aims to stimulate future studies on negative voting in multi-party parliamentary systems to motivate a better understanding of the implications of negativity in voting behavior in contemporary democracies.

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The Impact of Force Factors on the Benefits of Digital Transformation in Romania

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11052365 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 2365

Author(s):

Sorinel Căpușneanu ◽

Dorel Mateș ◽

Mirela Cătălina Tűrkeș ◽

Cristian-Marian Barbu ◽

Adela-Ioana Staraș ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Perceived Risk ◽

Industry 4.0 ◽

Business Models ◽

Structural Model ◽

Digital Transformation ◽

Sample Survey ◽

Intention To Use ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Use Of Technology ◽

The Impact

The digital transformation has produced changes in all existing areas of activity worldwide. There are many factors that can influence the intention to use Industry 4.0 processes and solutions and change the behavior of organizations and their business models. The aim of this study is to validate the econometric model on assessing the significant impact of distinct factors on the intention to use Industry 4.0 processes and solutions, the benefits of digital transformation perceived by organizational management and the differences between distinct groups analyzed. The research method used within the quantitative study was the sample survey, using the online questionnaire as a data collection tool. Three hundred forty-seven valid questionnaires were collected and the response rate of the respondents was 64.25%. A new structural model was generated based on the elements of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The results of the study indicated that Perceived competitiveness and Perceived risk have a significant impact on Intention to Use Industry 4.0 processes while Perceived vertical networking solutions and Perceived integrated engineering solutions have a significant influence on the Intention to Use Industry 4.0 solutions. In conclusion, there is a positive and significant association between Intention to Use Industry 4.0 solutions and Benefits of Digital Transformation.

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Personality Traits, Boredom, and Loneliness as Predictors of Facebook Use in On-Campus and Online University Students

International Journal of Cyber Behavior Psychology and Learning ◽

10.4018/ijcbpl.2017040104 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 36-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jason Skues ◽

Ben J. Williams ◽

Lisa Wise

Keyword(s):

Personality Traits ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Negative Binomial ◽

Negative Binomial Regression ◽

Big Five Personality ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Psychological Variables ◽

Two Samples ◽

Facebook Use ◽

Online University Students

This study examined the relationship between individual differences (Big Five personality traits, self-esteem, loneliness, narcissism, shyness, and boredom) and social networking behaviours in two samples of Australian undergraduate students, one enrolled on-campus (n = 93) and another in a completely online (n = 113) version of the same subject. Participants completed an online questionnaire measuring personality traits, psychological variables, and Facebook use. Negative binomial regression models showed that on-campus students with higher levels of neuroticism, extraversion, and loneliness tended to have more Facebook friends, however, no significant predictors of number of friends were found for online students. There were no significant predictors of time spent using Facebook per day for either cohort. Contrary to expectations, boredom was not a significant predictor of time spent on Facebook for on-campus students, but the low participation and completion rate for this on-campus group suggests that students high on boredom proneness were unlikely to have completed the survey.

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Patient Engagement in Health Management as a Mediator Between Perceived Risk and COVID-19 Related Distress in Patients With IBD: A Structural Equation Model

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.733544 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Greta Castellini ◽

Lorenzo Palamenghi ◽

Mariarosaria Savarese ◽

Serena Barello ◽

Salvatore Leone ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Patient Engagement ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Health Management ◽

Equation Model ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

The Impact

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 emergency on patients with IBD's psychological distress, understanding the role of patient engagement as a mediator.Methods: An online questionnaire was created, measuring perceived risk susceptibility toward COVID-19, perceived stress, and patient engagement. The questionnaire was distributed to a purposive sample of IBD patients who belonged to the Italian Association for patients with IBD (AMICI Onlus) in April 2020. Structural equation models were implemented.Results: The effect of the perceived risk susceptibility toward COVID-19 contagion on the perceived stress is fully mediated by patient engagement (β = 0.306, p < 0.001). Moreover, the patient engagement mitigates the perceived stress (β = −0.748, p < 0.001) in our sample of IBD patients, and it is negatively influenced by the perceived risk susceptibility toward COVID-19 (β = −0.410, p < 0.001).Conclusion: Patient engagement is the key factor that explains how the perceived risk susceptibility toward COVID-19 affects the perceived psychological distress in patients with IBD, underlining that the perceived risk of contagion increases their perceived level of stress through a decrease of patient engagement.

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Socioeconomic Status and COVID-19-Related Psychological Panic in China: The Role of Trust in Government and Authoritarian Personality

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182010888 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (20) ◽

pp. 10888

Author(s):

Xiaona Xie ◽

Tingting Wu ◽

Yue Zhang ◽

Yongyu Guo

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Indirect Effect ◽

Political Trust ◽

Negative Association ◽

Trust In Government ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Authoritarian Personality ◽

Chinese Sample ◽

Lower Socioeconomic

Although the health and economic risks of COVID-19 may differ for higher- and lower-socioeconomic-status (SES) populations, some studies found that people with lower SES do not necessarily experience more psychological panic. In this research, we examine how SES is related with psychological panic during the COVID-19 pandemic using a large nationwide Chinese sample. Participants were 933 adults (mean age = 30.04, SD = 8.19) who completed an online questionnaire between 11 and 12 February 2020. Lower SES individuals have higher trust in government and thus experience less psychological panic, and the indirect effect of this trust suppresses the direct negative association between SES and psychological panic. In addition to this difference in trust in government between lower- and higher-status individuals, the indirect effect of the trust only exists among people with low (not high) authoritarian personalities. This study provides evidence that political trust may serve as a buffer, suppressing the negative association between SES and psychological panic; thus, policies and actions enhancing political trust are vital to support the mental health of individuals with lower SES during the pandemic, especially for citizens with low authoritarian personalities.

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Medical Sciences’ Students Responses During the Late Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran: A Comprehensive Investigation of the Risk Perception and Information Exposure

ACTA MEDICA IRANICA ◽

10.18502/acta.v59i12.8058 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mahan Shafie ◽

Mahsa Mayeli ◽

Hamed Hosseini ◽

Mahnaz Ashoorkhani

Keyword(s):

Risk Perception ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Late Phase ◽

Population Level ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Medical Sciences ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Information Exposure ◽

Risk Patients

COVID-19 pandemic obligated applying population-level behavioral modifications to effectively prevent the spread of the disease. This necessitated investigating those measures that determine population behavior. Herein we have studied risk perception and information exposure that are among those determinants in Iran. 402 cases from medical sciences students were enrolled during the last week of September 2020. Using an online questionnaire, risk perception and sources of information about COVID-19 were investigated. Although most students considered COVID-19 preventable, merely a few considered the disease curable. A higher risk was perceived concerning the families compared to themselves. Moreover, most of them believed the prognosis good even in high-risk patients. Social media was the most informative source used; however, health professionals were considered the most reliable. The risk perception was equal between those diagnosed with COVID-19 or had a family member diagnosed compared to those without such exposure in most questions. Also, no significant difference was observed in risk perception between those students with serious underlying medical conditions and those without one regarding most items. Lastly, major and grade were the most significant demographic contributors to the risk perception. Moderate risk was perceived overall among the cases in which major and grade were the only remarkable demographic contributors. Unexpectedly, underlying medical history was not significantly correlated with the perceived risk. Lastly, previous COVID-19 exposure merely altered the curability and preventability perception.

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Perception and awareness of COVID-19 among health science students and staff of Kuwait University: An online cross-sectional study

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.54046.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 566

Author(s):

Walid Alali ◽

Wadha AlFouzan ◽

Dhuha Alajmi ◽

Haya Al-Tawalah ◽

Khalid Kheirallah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Stigma ◽

Face Mask ◽

Health Science ◽

Vaccine Uptake ◽

Transmission Risk ◽

Science Students ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Kuwait University ◽

Health Science Students

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is unprecedented. Health science students are the future frontliners to fight pandemics. Awareness and perception toward COVID-19 among health science students and staff at Kuwait University was assessed. Methods: Between June and July 2020, an online questionnaire was distributed to all students and staff at HCS. The questionnaire was divided into six sections: socio-demography, risk and awareness, preparedness and prevention, source of information, policies, and social stigma. Results: A total of 592 students and 162 staff completed the questionnaire. The prevalence of self-reported chronic condition among students and staff was 14.0% and 19.1%, respectively. Moreover, self-reported COVID-19 prevalence among students and staff was 2.7% and 1.2%, respectively. Interestingly, 54% of students and 38.3% of staff reported that they knew someone within their immediate social environment who have been/are infected with SARS-CoV-2. Among students, 92.4% wore face mask in indoor places (outside of their home) ‘often/all the time’ compared to wearing it outdoors (69.3%); whereas, for staff, it was more common to wear it outdoor than in indoor places (75.9% vs. 81.5%). Willingness to take COVID-19 vaccine was indicated by 50% of students ‘strongly agreed’ and an additional 25.8% agreed to taking it. Interest vaccine uptake was lower among staff (28.4% and 34.6% strongly agreed or agreed, respectively). Participants strongly agreed or agreed (72.5% and 19.6% of students as well as 68.5% and 22.2% of staff) that wearing face mask in public should be obligatory. More than 18% of students and staff indicated that they would avoid contact with COVID-19 infected people. Conclusions: Responses of students and staff were mostly similar and showed that they follow precautionary measures to control spread of COVID-19, understand the viral transmission risk, and willing to raise awareness to reduce social stigma.

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