RISK-TAKING AND DECISION-MAKING UNDER UNCERTAINTY IN THE COVID-19 VACCINE. DOES THE SOMATIC MARKER HYPOTHESIS EXPLAIN VACCINE HESITANCY?

Abstract

The study aims to compare the decision-making processes of individuals with and without the Covid-19 vaccine under uncertainty.The study included 70 participants vaccinated against Covid-19 and 70 not-vaccinated against Covid-19, matched by age, gender, and education level. Sociodemographic Data Form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Barratt Impulsivity Scale Short Form (BIS-11-SF), The Scale of Vaccine Hesitancy (SVH), and Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) were administered to the participants.A statistically significant difference was found between the vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups regarding SVH sub-dimensions and the total score (p<0.001). A statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in the IGT-5 sub- dimension (p <0.05). Although there was no statistically significant difference in IGT-total and other sub-dimensions, it was recognized that not-vaccinated participants made more choices for risky decks. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between IGT-5 and the benefit and protective value of the vaccine, solutions for non-vaccination, and SVH-total score. Besides, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between the IGT-Total score and the sub-dimension of solutions for non-vaccination.The non-vaccinated group made more choices from the disadvantageous and risky decks in the long run during the decision-making task under uncertainty; they were prone to take more risks. That is why the impact of implicit and emotional processes should be considered in the risk assessment against vaccine hesitancy.