Η hesitation or refusal for someone to do the vaccine against the coronavirus, It may also be related to the the presence of traumatic experiences from his childhood, such as neglect or abandonment by his parents, domestic violence or substance abuse within the family, according to a a new British scientific study, which highlights an overlooked psychological factor that is hindering the vaccination campaign. People who experienced childhood trauma are up to three times more likely to be opposed to vaccines than those who did not have such experiences as children.
The researchers, led by Professor Mark Bellis of Bangor University in Wales, who published their findings in the British medical journal «BMJ Open,» analyzed data from 2,285 people who were asked to provide information about their past, as well as their current views on vaccines and their level of trust in related health and scientific information. Half (52%) reported no childhood trauma, while the rest had experienced one or more before the age of 18, such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; parental separation; exposure to domestic violence; living in a family with a member who had a serious mental illness; a family where substance abuse occurred (alcohol, drugs, etc.) or where a parent had been incarcerated. Approximately 20% (one in five) had experienced one childhood trauma, 17% (one in six) reported two to three, while 10% (one in ten) reported four or more.
The more traumatic childhood experiences a person had, the more likely they were to have little or no trust in the information and recommendations provided by health authorities, to feel that the government's restrictive measures are unfair because of the pandemic (such as wearing a mask, social distancing, etc.) and violates them, as well as refusing to get vaccinated.
The percentage of vaccine refusals was three times higher among those who had experienced four or more traumatic childhood experiences, compared to those who had none. These same people—especially younger men—were four times as likely to reject the mandatory use of masks, while in this group, the percentage of those who periodically violated pandemic-related restrictions was also nearly double (38% versus 21% among those without childhood trauma).
The researchers estimated that the rates of vaccine refusal by age group due to childhood trauma ranged from 3.5% among those over 70 with almost no childhood trauma to 38% among 18- to 29-year-olds with four or more traumatic childhood experiences. Other studies in the past have linked childhood trauma to poor mental health later in life and have shown that, as they grow up, these children tend to have generally lower levels of trust, including in matters of health.
