# Alike but not the same: Psychological profiles of COVID-19 vaccine skeptics

## TL;DR

This study explores the psychological profiles of people skeptical about the COVID-19 vaccine, finding that skepticism varies in intensity and is linked to personality traits and conspiracy beliefs.

## Contribution

The study identifies distinct psychological profiles of vaccine skeptics using latent profile analysis, revealing nuanced differences in mental and emotional traits.

## Key findings

- Five distinct psychological profiles were identified, including two non-skeptic and three skeptic classes.
- Skeptic groups showed strong distrust in vaccination but varied in emotional and mental characteristics.
- Extreme vaccine skepticism is linked to personality traits and conspiracy beliefs, not just mental illness.

## Abstract

One of the challenges of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was a widespread skepticism about vaccination. To elucidate the underlying mental and emotional predispositions, we examined a sample of 1428 participants using latent profile analysis (LPA) on selected personality trait variables, mental health status, and measures of irrational beliefs. LPA revealed five distinct profiles: two classes of non-skeptics and three of skeptics. The smaller non-skeptic class reported the highest rates of mental health problems, along with high levels of neuroticism, hostility, interpersonal sensitivity, and external locus of control. The larger non-skeptic class was psychologically well-balanced. Conversely, the skeptic groups shared strong distrust of COVID-19 vaccination but differed in emotional and mental profiles, leading to graded differences in endorsing extreme conspiracy beliefs. This suggests that vaccine skepticism is not solely a result of mental illness or emotional instability; rather extreme skepticism manifests as a nuanced, graded phenomenon contingent on personality traits and conspirational beliefs.