Cultural worldview, perceived risk, and vaccination policy preferences

n the past 20 years public concern about the relationship between childhood vaccines and autism have increased. Despite scientific findings that underscore the safety of vaccines and their efficacy in preventing serious infectious diseases, public perception of risk has remained if not increased. As a result, the United States and other developed nations are facing a rising incidence of preventable and deadly infectious diseases while grappling with resistance to the mandatory vaccine programs designed to prevent such diseases. Thus, to study the underlying cultural and political motivations for risk perceptions and decision making, a nationwide Internet survey of 1,213 U.S. adults was conducted to study differing public opinions on vaccination policies. Survey data were used to analyze both perceptions about risks and benefits associated with vaccines and policy preferences related to vaccine programs. The survey focused on the roles of political ideology and cultural orientation: political ideology influenced support for mandatory childhood vaccinations, while cultural orientation influenced both risk/benefit perceptions and support for mandatory vaccinations. The “fatalist” category of cultural orientation was associated with substantially higher perceived risks from vaccines and greater opposition to mandatory childhood vaccinations. The “hierarch” and “egalitarian” orientations were associated with greater perceived benefits from vaccinations, and greater support for mandatory vaccination programs. The “individualist” orientation tended to reject mandatory programs and favored parental decision-making for childhood vaccinations. Understanding to influence of culture and political ideology provides necessary insight for public health policy making and also informs health promotion messaging.