Structure of anxiety and stress as factors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance

Threats to life and health, the public health crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to 1) accelerated development of vaccines, 2) adverse psychological reactions in the population.
Aim: to identify differences in stress, anxiety, protective behavior strategies, and the socio-demographic characteristics of online survey participants, who reported opposing attitudes to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
Materials and Methods. In December 2020-January 2021, 131 respondents were assessed (men—21.4%). The Psychological Stress Scale (PSM 25), original questionnaires to evaluate pandemic concerns and protective behavior strategies with special question about COVID-19 vaccine acceptance were used. Effect sizes obtained using Cohen’s d and Cramer’s V measures were calculated for groups, the differences between which were significant (p≤0.05).
Results. A 47.3% sample, having PSM-25 rates above the threshold (100 points), showed a distress reaction to the pandemic due to anxiety stress. Compared to the spring of 2020, the number of concerns associated with a noticeable stress growth (ES≥0.34) increased from two to six. Psychological distress, concerns about the possible lack of medication for daily intake, harsh social consequences and self-isolation were associated with only foreign producer vaccine acceptance (ES=0.3-0.5). Absence of excessive fears for own life, concerns about the lack of personal protective equipment and unacceptance of gloves as a measure to prevent infection (ES=0.3-0.4) were important factors associated with any producer vaccine acceptance. Men, comparing to women, were more positive in vaccine acceptance.
Conclusion. The anxiety distress is an important factor in the rational attitude to coronavirus infection vaccine.

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