Promoters and Barriers of Vaccine Hesitancy.
Mirko Duradoni, Anna Enrica Tosti, Giulia Colombini et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This PRISMA-guided systematic review examined psychological factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Searches identified 48 publications from an initial pool of 1673 papers. The review grouped relevant factors into cognitive, personality, experiential, and social domains. Health literacy, conspiracy beliefs, trust, and perceived risk were among the cognitive factors; personality traits and personal experiences were also implicated. Social relationships and norms were described as reducing hesitancy. The authors conclude that interventions tailored to these psychological factors may enhance vaccine acceptance.
Key findings
- The review included 48 publications identified from an initial search of 1673 papers.
- Cognitive factors linked to hesitancy included health literacy, conspiracy beliefs, trust, and perceived risk.
- Personality traits and experiences such as perceived stress and racial discrimination were also associated with hesitancy.
- Social relationships and norms were reported to reduce vaccine hesitancy.
Why it matters
Vaccine hesitancy can influence vaccination behavior, and this review highlights that it may reflect more than knowledge or risk perceptions alone. Considering cognitive, personal, and social influences can help frame communication and intervention approaches around factors relevant to acceptance, while recognising that the review synthesises varied publications rather than testing a single intervention.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe the included studies’ designs or quality, limiting assessment of the strength and consistency of the evidence.