Cognitive reflexion, positive perception of science and health literacy are independent protective predictors of vaccine conspiracy beliefs
1
Department of Health Promotion and e-Health, Institute of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
2
Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical Faculty, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3946
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Background. Vaccine conspiracy beliefs (VCB) can weaken vaccine confidence and trust in health institutions, and in consequence, unfavorably influence vaccination behavior¹. Beyond exposure to misinformation, VCB may reflect cognitive style and epistemic trust². Lower analytic reflection can increase receptivity to appealing but implausible causal narratives, whereas more positive perceptions of science may strengthen epistemic trust in scientific methods. Our study assessed whether cognitive reflection (CR), positive views on science, and health literacy (HL) are independently associated with VCB after adjustment for key sociodemographic and political correlates Methods. We analyzed data from an online survey of Polish adults aged 18–75 (N=2701). The sample was quota-matched by gender, age, education, place of residence, and NUTS1 macro-region and recruited via an online access panel. VCB were measured with the Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scale³. CR was assessed using the Cognitive Reflection Test⁴, positive views on science with a validated science-attitudes scale⁵. Multivariable linear regression estimated associations between predictors and VCB, adjusting for sociodemographic variables and political orientation. Results. The model explained a meaningful proportion of variance in VCB (R²=0.219; adjusted R²=0.213; F(22,2678)=34.17, p<0.001). Higher CR was independently associated with lower VCB (B=-0.98, 95%CI: 1.30 to -0.67). More positive views on science showed a similarly strong protective association (B=-0.13, 95%CI: 0.16 to 0.09). HL remained an independent correlate: compared with sufficient HL, inadequate HL was associated with higher VCB (B=2.61, 95%CI:1.64 to 3.58). Among covariates, VCB varied by education and residence and showed pronounced differences across political orientation categories. Conclusions. CR, positive views on science, and HL were independent protective predictors of VCB. Preventive interventions employed in public health may benefit from combining strategies that strengthen analytic reflection, support constructive engagement with science and scientific institutions, and improve foundational HL competencies, while accounting for the socio-political context of vaccine attitudes.
Background. Vaccine conspiracy beliefs (VCB) can weaken vaccine confidence and trust in health institutions, and in consequence, unfavorably influence vaccination behavior¹. Beyond exposure to misinformation, VCB may reflect cognitive style and epistemic trust². Lower analytic reflection can increase receptivity to appealing but implausible causal narratives, whereas more positive perceptions of science may strengthen epistemic trust in scientific methods. Our study assessed whether cognitive reflection (CR), positive views on science, and health literacy (HL) are independently associated with VCB after adjustment for key sociodemographic and political correlates Methods. We analyzed data from an online survey of Polish adults aged 18–75 (N=2701). The sample was quota-matched by gender, age, education, place of residence, and NUTS1 macro-region and recruited via an online access panel. VCB were measured with the Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs Scale³. CR was assessed using the Cognitive Reflection Test⁴, positive views on science with a validated science-attitudes scale⁵. Multivariable linear regression estimated associations between predictors and VCB, adjusting for sociodemographic variables and political orientation. Results. The model explained a meaningful proportion of variance in VCB (R²=0.219; adjusted R²=0.213; F(22,2678)=34.17, p<0.001). Higher CR was independently associated with lower VCB (B=-0.98, 95%CI: 1.30 to -0.67). More positive views on science showed a similarly strong protective association (B=-0.13, 95%CI: 0.16 to 0.09). HL remained an independent correlate: compared with sufficient HL, inadequate HL was associated with higher VCB (B=2.61, 95%CI:1.64 to 3.58). Among covariates, VCB varied by education and residence and showed pronounced differences across political orientation categories. Conclusions. CR, positive views on science, and HL were independent protective predictors of VCB. Preventive interventions employed in public health may benefit from combining strategies that strengthen analytic reflection, support constructive engagement with science and scientific institutions, and improve foundational HL competencies, while accounting for the socio-political context of vaccine attitudes.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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