An integrated model of the emotional, cognitive, and community-related dimensions affecting vaccine hesitancy during COVID-19 pandemic

This paper proposes an integrated model of cognitive, emotional, and community-related predictors of vaccine hesitancy. A multiple mediation model was run using Structural Equation Modeling to test the role of perceived job and economic insecurities, pandemic-related emotions, and Sense of Community (SoC) as to respondents’ vaccine hesitancy, through the mediation of safeguarding one’s own and others’ health and re-accessing pre-pandemic public and social life as motivations toward vaccination. Data was gathered from 432 Italian citizens through an online questionnaire. Results suggest that while emotional and community-related dimensions were effective in motivating individuals to protect their and others’ health up to reducing their vaccine hesitancy, the perception of material hardships and re-accessing pre-pandemic public and social life were not. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed, paying also attention to the contextual constraints stemming from the specific policies and approaches adopted in Italy to face COVID-19 outbreak.