Who Gets Vaccinated? Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Predictors of Individual Behaviour in Pandemics

This study investigates different cognitive and non-cognitive characteristics associated with individuals' willingness to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and their actual vaccination status. Our empirical analysis is based on data obtained from three survey waves conducted in 2021 among about 2,000 individuals living in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. We find that individuals with a high level of trait reactance - a personality characteristic that entails the personal tendency to perceive persuasion attempts as restricting one's freedom - display a significantly lower willingness to get vaccinated. They also tend to get inoculated later or never. Moreover, neuroticism, locus of control, and statistical numeracy appear to be associated with the willingness to get vaccinated, but these results are less pronounced and less robust. Our results indicate that vaccination campaigns and policies could be improved by specifically addressing those with a high level of trait reactance.