Psychological Factors of Vaccination Intent among Healthcare Providers, Parents, and Laypeople

Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ) validation in French language: Exploring links to loneliness

The concept of epistemic trust is gaining traction in the mental health field. Epistemic trust is thought to play a foundational role as a resilience factor against the development and maintenance of psychopathology by fostering social learning. The primary aim of this study was to validate the French-language version of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ). We further sought to replicate previously reported associations with key developmental and psychological factors (childhood trauma, mentalizing and attachment) and test for epistemic trust's potential mediating roles between childhood traumatic experiences and psychopathology, and between loneliness and psychopathology. A total of 302 participants were recruited via the online survey platform Prolific. Confirmatory factor analysis and generalized linear models of mediation were conducted. Our findings suggest that the ETMCQ is a valid instrument to assess epistemic trust in the French language. Satisfactory psychometric properties were found to replicate the original three-factor solution in a Francophone population with a 12-item version of the questionnaire, with criterion-related validity similar to that previously published in validations of the ETMCQ in other languages. We also replicate previous findings reporting differential associations between epistemic stances (trust, mistrust and credulity) and attachment dimensions and styles, while also replicating mediation analyses showing the role of epistemic stances in the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and psychopathology. Finally, we report preliminary evidence suggesting that epistemic trust mediates the well-described association between loneliness and psychopathology. Future research should investigate the ETMCQ in clinical populations in which psychopathological expressions are severe, enduring and co-occurring, where identifying potential mediators could help target and personalize psychosocial interventions.

Validation of the Chinese version of the vaccine conspiracy beliefs scale during COVID-19 pandemic and its correlates

OBJECTIVE

To validate the Chinese version of the vaccine conspiracy beliefs scale (VCBS) and to investigate and compare its correlates among healthcare workers and non-healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

From March 19 to April 05, 2021, a nationwide cross-sectional online survey was administered to Chinese individuals aged 16 and above. The study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the VCBS. A binary logistic or linear regression model, along with mediation analysis, was employed to explore the relationship between vaccine conspiracy beliefs and its correlates among healthcare workers.

RESULTS

The VCBS demonstrated robust psychometric properties, showing satisfactory results from both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, strong internal consistency (KR-20 = 0.947), and calibration validity. Measurement invariance (MI) was also observed. Additionally, individuals' vaccine conspiracy beliefs, as measured by the VCBS, mediate the relationship between occupation and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (95 % CI [-2.229, -1.060]), as well as COVID-19 (95 % CI [0.096, 0.304]), influenza (95 % CI [0.075, 0.304]), and HPV (95 % CI [0.009, 0.236]) vaccination uptakes.

CONCLUSION

The Chinese adaptation of the VCBS proves adept at assessing vaccine conspiracy beliefs among Chinese individuals aged 16 and above. Notably, the healthcare workers are less likely to exhibit COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and are more likely to receive COVID-19, influenza, and HPV vaccines. This tendency is partly related to their weaker conspiracy beliefs about vaccination.

Iranian adaptation of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ): Validity, reliability, discriminant ability, and sex invariance

INTRODUCTION

Epistemic trust, or trust in transmitted knowledge, has been proposed as a critical factor in psychopathology and psychotherapy. This study aimed at evaluating the psychometric properties of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ) in Iran.

METHOD

Data were collected from 906 participants. Along with the ETMCQ, measures of mentalizing, mindfulness, perspective-taking, attachment, emotion dysregulation, and borderline personality disorder were administered. Confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were used to determine factorial structure.

RESULTS

The ESEM model showed an acceptable fit and outperformed the confirmatory model. A 14-item version of the ETMCQ was retained after examining item performance. Our findings also established criterion-related validity for mistrust and credulity, an acceptable internal consistency for credulity, discriminant power for mistrust and credulity in detecting positive screens for borderline personality disorder, and measurement invariance across sexes.

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence for the cross-cultural applicability of the ETMCQ. Nonetheless, the validity of the trust and internal consistency of the mistrust subscale require particular attention in future research.