The Effect of Conspiracy Belief on Covid-19 Vaccines on Vaccine Attitude: The Case of Sakarya

Abstract

The aim of the study is to determine the effect of individuals' vaccine conspiracy beliefs on their attitudes towards vaccines and to reveal the differences between the demographic characteristics of the participants and the variables. In the study, an online questionnaire consisting of Demographic Information Form, Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scale and Attitudes Towards Vaccine Scale was used as data collection tool. Descriptive statistical methods, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis and difference analysis were used in data analysis. It was determined that the vaccine conspiracy beliefs had a negative effect on the positive vaccination attitude and a positive effect on the negative vaccination attitude. In addition, statistically significant differences were found between the gender of the individuals and positive vaccination attitude, negative vaccination attitude. And that between B1 (I am not favorable to vaccines because they are unsafe.), B2 (There is no need to vaccinate because natural immunity exists.) and positive vaccine attitude, negative vaccine attitude and vaccine conspiracy belief. The conspiracy theories about Covid-19 vaccines and the lack of faith or distrust in science negatively affect the positive attitude towards the vaccine, leading to a delay or decrease in the acquisition of herd immunity. Therefore, the security concerns of individuals should be eliminated, misinformation and conspiracy theories should be disproved, and the intention of individuals to be vaccinated against Covid-19 should be increased.