Divided by vaccination? Evaluating the intergroup conflict between pro- and anti-vaccination groups in the post-pandemic era
Abstract The vaccination against COVID-19 has torn societies apart. Against this background we evaluate three interrelated research questions: (1) does vaccination polarize citizens even after the COVID-19 pandemic has faded; (2) do opinions about vaccination correlate with group formation and ident...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer Nature
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04016-y |
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| author | Maximilian Filsinger Markus Freitag |
| author_facet | Maximilian Filsinger Markus Freitag |
| author_sort | Maximilian Filsinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The vaccination against COVID-19 has torn societies apart. Against this background we evaluate three interrelated research questions: (1) does vaccination polarize citizens even after the COVID-19 pandemic has faded; (2) do opinions about vaccination correlate with group formation and identification, and (3) do we observe opinion-based affective polarization regarding vaccination in the post-pandemic era? Based on two original surveys from Switzerland in early 2022 and late 2023, our results highlight that respondents have distinct opinions about vaccination, but that only pro-vaccination respondents have formed an opinion identity. We also observe an asymmetric affective polarization: pro-vaccination respondents show higher levels of liking toward other pro-vaccination respondents but significant dislike toward anti-vaccination respondents, while the same does not hold true for anti-vaccination respondents. Overall, affective polarization toward vaccination is less pronounced in the aftermath of the health crisis than during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, at a time when globalization is boosting the threat of pandemics, caution is warranted, as an increasing salience of vaccination could widen the divide again. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ddb5bd829cdd43189f09cbf480a7b291 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2662-9992 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-ddb5bd829cdd43189f09cbf480a7b2912025-08-20T02:16:40ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-02-0112111210.1057/s41599-024-04016-yDivided by vaccination? Evaluating the intergroup conflict between pro- and anti-vaccination groups in the post-pandemic eraMaximilian Filsinger0Markus Freitag1ESPOL-LAB, Université Catholique de LilleMultidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID), University of BernAbstract The vaccination against COVID-19 has torn societies apart. Against this background we evaluate three interrelated research questions: (1) does vaccination polarize citizens even after the COVID-19 pandemic has faded; (2) do opinions about vaccination correlate with group formation and identification, and (3) do we observe opinion-based affective polarization regarding vaccination in the post-pandemic era? Based on two original surveys from Switzerland in early 2022 and late 2023, our results highlight that respondents have distinct opinions about vaccination, but that only pro-vaccination respondents have formed an opinion identity. We also observe an asymmetric affective polarization: pro-vaccination respondents show higher levels of liking toward other pro-vaccination respondents but significant dislike toward anti-vaccination respondents, while the same does not hold true for anti-vaccination respondents. Overall, affective polarization toward vaccination is less pronounced in the aftermath of the health crisis than during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, at a time when globalization is boosting the threat of pandemics, caution is warranted, as an increasing salience of vaccination could widen the divide again.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04016-y |
| spellingShingle | Maximilian Filsinger Markus Freitag Divided by vaccination? Evaluating the intergroup conflict between pro- and anti-vaccination groups in the post-pandemic era Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| title | Divided by vaccination? Evaluating the intergroup conflict between pro- and anti-vaccination groups in the post-pandemic era |
| title_full | Divided by vaccination? Evaluating the intergroup conflict between pro- and anti-vaccination groups in the post-pandemic era |
| title_fullStr | Divided by vaccination? Evaluating the intergroup conflict between pro- and anti-vaccination groups in the post-pandemic era |
| title_full_unstemmed | Divided by vaccination? Evaluating the intergroup conflict between pro- and anti-vaccination groups in the post-pandemic era |
| title_short | Divided by vaccination? Evaluating the intergroup conflict between pro- and anti-vaccination groups in the post-pandemic era |
| title_sort | divided by vaccination evaluating the intergroup conflict between pro and anti vaccination groups in the post pandemic era |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04016-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maximilianfilsinger dividedbyvaccinationevaluatingtheintergroupconflictbetweenproandantivaccinationgroupsinthepostpandemicera AT markusfreitag dividedbyvaccinationevaluatingtheintergroupconflictbetweenproandantivaccinationgroupsinthepostpandemicera |