Key Predictors that Characterize Different Stances on Significant Global Scientific Challenges: Comparing Vaccine and Climate Change Beliefs
This paper uses socioeconomic, political, psychological, information seeking and trust-related factors to characterize different beliefs on global challenges—vaccine beliefs (COVID-19) and climate change—to inform effective science and public health communications and interventions. We surveyed a sa...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-03-01
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| Series: | SAGE Open |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251324763 |
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| author | Ashlin Lee Marian Sheppard Claire K. Naughtin Megan A. Rebuli Emily Brindal |
| author_facet | Ashlin Lee Marian Sheppard Claire K. Naughtin Megan A. Rebuli Emily Brindal |
| author_sort | Ashlin Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper uses socioeconomic, political, psychological, information seeking and trust-related factors to characterize different beliefs on global challenges—vaccine beliefs (COVID-19) and climate change—to inform effective science and public health communications and interventions. We surveyed a sample of 1,790 Australians (73.1% female) aged 18 to over 75 years on their vaccine beliefs, perceptions of climate change risks, demographics, and various political and attitudinal beliefs. Six groups representing different levels of belief across the two challenges were identified. Canonical linear discriminant analysis identified two clear functions—Progressive Liberalism and Conspiratorial Anti-politics—emerged as explanatory for positive and negative loaded worldviews towards vaccine mandates, respectively. Willingness to act on climate change loaded strongly and positively onto both functions. The implications of this politicized worldview are discussed, including the distinction of these composites. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9c879b1431e34033b102f73a8ce3c08d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2158-2440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-9c879b1431e34033b102f73a8ce3c08d2025-08-20T02:56:30ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open2158-24402025-03-011510.1177/21582440251324763Key Predictors that Characterize Different Stances on Significant Global Scientific Challenges: Comparing Vaccine and Climate Change BeliefsAshlin Lee0Marian Sheppard1Claire K. Naughtin2Megan A. Rebuli3Emily Brindal4School of Sociology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaClimate Services and Applications, Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Aspendale, VIC, AustraliaDigital Futures, Data61, Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaHuman Health, Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Adelaide, SA, AustraliaHuman Health, Health and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Adelaide, SA, AustraliaThis paper uses socioeconomic, political, psychological, information seeking and trust-related factors to characterize different beliefs on global challenges—vaccine beliefs (COVID-19) and climate change—to inform effective science and public health communications and interventions. We surveyed a sample of 1,790 Australians (73.1% female) aged 18 to over 75 years on their vaccine beliefs, perceptions of climate change risks, demographics, and various political and attitudinal beliefs. Six groups representing different levels of belief across the two challenges were identified. Canonical linear discriminant analysis identified two clear functions—Progressive Liberalism and Conspiratorial Anti-politics—emerged as explanatory for positive and negative loaded worldviews towards vaccine mandates, respectively. Willingness to act on climate change loaded strongly and positively onto both functions. The implications of this politicized worldview are discussed, including the distinction of these composites.https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251324763 |
| spellingShingle | Ashlin Lee Marian Sheppard Claire K. Naughtin Megan A. Rebuli Emily Brindal Key Predictors that Characterize Different Stances on Significant Global Scientific Challenges: Comparing Vaccine and Climate Change Beliefs SAGE Open |
| title | Key Predictors that Characterize Different Stances on Significant Global Scientific Challenges: Comparing Vaccine and Climate Change Beliefs |
| title_full | Key Predictors that Characterize Different Stances on Significant Global Scientific Challenges: Comparing Vaccine and Climate Change Beliefs |
| title_fullStr | Key Predictors that Characterize Different Stances on Significant Global Scientific Challenges: Comparing Vaccine and Climate Change Beliefs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Key Predictors that Characterize Different Stances on Significant Global Scientific Challenges: Comparing Vaccine and Climate Change Beliefs |
| title_short | Key Predictors that Characterize Different Stances on Significant Global Scientific Challenges: Comparing Vaccine and Climate Change Beliefs |
| title_sort | key predictors that characterize different stances on significant global scientific challenges comparing vaccine and climate change beliefs |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440251324763 |
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