Accuracy-Sensitisation Promotes the Sharing of Pro- (but Not Anti-) Vaccine Information
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Informa UK Limited
Abstract
Objective: This study investigated (i) factors predicting the seeking and sharing of vaccine related information, and (ii) the effect of an accuracy-sensitisation prime on sharing intentions. Design: This was a preregistered online survey with 213 participants. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (who were exposed to an accuracy-sensitisation prime) or a control group. Design: This was a preregistered online survey with 213 participants. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (who were exposed to an accuracy-sensitisation prime) or a control group. Main Outcome Measures: Measures included decision-making style, COVID-19 anxiety, and percentages of pro and anti-vaccine friends. We also measured preferences to seek pro or anti-vaccine-related information and sharing intentions with respect to this information. Results: Compared with those seeking both pro and anti-vaccine information, participants seeking only pro-vaccine information had lower hypervigilance and buck-passing and higher COVID-19 anxiety. The likelihood of sharing anti-vaccine information was positively predicted by the percentage of one’s anti-vaccine friends, the size of one’s social network, and conservative political orientation. Conversely, the likelihood of sharing pro-vaccine information was positively predicted by the percentage of one’s pro-vaccine friends, and liberal political orientation. Participants sensitised to accuracy were significantly more likely to share provaccine information; however, accuracy-sensitisation had no effect on anti-vaccine information sharing. Conclusions: Individuals who seek anti-vaccine information have a tendency towards disorganised and impulsive decision-making. Accuracy-sensitisation may prime people to internalise a norm promoting truth-sharing.Description
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anti-vaccine information, decision-making style, information accuracy, misinformation, pro-vaccine information, 5205 Social and Personality Psychology, 52 Psychology, Vaccine Related, Infectious Diseases, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities, Clinical Research, Immunization, Prevention, 3 Good Health and Well Being, 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy, 1701 Psychology, Clinical Psychology, 4206 Public health, 5203 Clinical and health psychology, 5205 Social and personality psychology
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Psychology and Health, ISSN: 0887-0446 (Print); 1476-8321 (Online), Informa UK Limited, 39(11), 1540-1554. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2023.2179053
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© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.