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Covid-19 vaccination, fear and anxiety: Evidence from Google search trends

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  • Awijen, Haithem
  • Ben Zaied, Younes
  • Nguyen, Duc Khuong

Abstract

Covid-19 vaccination was associated with a general feeling of hesitancy, and its arrival increased fear and economic anxiety. This paper investigates the impacts of Covid-19 vaccination on fear and economic anxiety using a worldwide sample of 194 countries observed from December 1st, 2020 to March 4th, 2021. The difference-in-differences investigation approach shows that with the vaccine's arrival, the Google search trends measuring fear and anxiety are increasing. The arrival of the vaccine has created a general feeling of fear, and people have a lack of confidence in the vaccine's efficiency to overcome the Covid-19 crisis. Specifically, anxiety increased when the delta variant was discovered in India. Governments' interventions must ensure that the Covid-19 vaccine does not have adverse side effects that can harm public health. We suggested that policy makers should focus on increasing the number of older adults willing to receive the vaccine. It can be effective in explaining the benefits of the vaccine, and denying false information about the vaccine and its serious side effects.

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  • Awijen, Haithem & Ben Zaied, Younes & Nguyen, Duc Khuong, 2022. "Covid-19 vaccination, fear and anxiety: Evidence from Google search trends," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:297:y:2022:i:c:s0277953622001265
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114820
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    1. Rachel Pomazal & Kristen M. C. Malecki & Laura McCulley & Noah Stafford & Mikayla Schowalter & Amy Schultz, 2023. "Changes in Alcohol Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Wisconsin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Aleksandar S. Mojašević & Dejan Vučetić & Jelena Vučković & Stefan Stefanović, 2022. "Behavioral Approach to the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy: An Empirical Study in Serbia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, August.
    3. Anna Kłak & Konrad Furmańczyk & Paulina Maria Nowicka & Małgorzata Mańczak & Agnieszka Barańska & Urszula Religioni & Anna Siekierska & Martyna Ambroziak & Magdalena Chłopek, 2022. "The Relationship between Searches for COVID-19 Vaccines and Dynamics of Vaccinated People in Poland: An Infodemiological Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-12, October.
    4. Ouhinou Amine & Elhachimi Zineb & Kartobi Eddine, 2023. "Study Of The Behavioural Determinants Of Investment In The Era Of The Covid-19 Pandemic Among Socially Responsible Investors In Morocco," Economic Archive, D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics, Svishtov, Bulgaria, issue 2 Year 20, pages 31-47.
    5. Krzysztof Drachal & Daniel González Cortés, 2022. "Estimation of Lockdowns’ Impact on Well-Being in Selected Countries: An Application of Novel Bayesian Methods and Google Search Queries Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-24, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Covid-19 vaccination; Economic anxiety; Health beliefs; Mental models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D84 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Expectations; Speculations
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles

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