A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology has found that extroverts are more likely to resist COVID-19 vaccination than other personality types.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso and the University of Toronto, surveyed more than 40,000 Canadian adults between November 2020 and July 2021. The survey asked participants about their personality traits, as well as their willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The researchers found that extroverts were 18% more likely to refuse the vaccine than other personality types. They also found that people who were more open to new experiences and more agreeable were more likely to get vaccinated.
The study’s lead author, Melissa Baker, said that the findings could help public health officials develop more effective vaccination campaigns. “If we know you need to reach a certain type of personality, we can think about the message that will actually reach and persuade that person,” she said.
The study’s findings are consistent with previous research that has shown a link between personality traits and vaccine hesitancy. For example, a study published in the journal PLOS One in 2018 found that people who were more neurotic were more likely to be hesitant about vaccines.
The researchers said that the findings of their study could help to improve public understanding of vaccine hesitancy. “We hope that this study will help to dispel some of the myths about vaccine hesitancy and show that it is not just a matter of people being uneducated or misinformed,” said Baker.
The study’s findings are also relevant to the current COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic entering its third year, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to vaccine hesitancy so that we can develop effective strategies to increase vaccination rates.
