Conspiracy Illusion, Superstitions, and Death Anxiety of Older Adults Who Refused Covid-19 Vaccination in Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study on Their Beliefs

Abstract

The study was aimed to assess mental health of the older adults who did not participate in the three stages of national vaccination program. As a descriptive-analytical study, about 285 Iranian older people were interviewed in 2022. Data collection tools included demographic characteristics, conspiracy scale, superstitious beliefs instrument, and Templer death anxiety. The convenience sampling method was used and data were analyzed using BIM-SPSS version 28. Death anxiety statistically effect on conspiratory and superstitions with scores 0.190 and 0.320 using adjusted Eta squared, respectively and superstitious beliefs effected 81% of conspiracy as well ( p = 0.001). Using ROC analysis, the cutoff points for conspiracy of men and women and final SEM model were extracted too. Interaction of conspiracy illusion, superstitions with death anxiety during the pandemic time among vulnerable groups i.e ageing community can shape a decision line in health policy making.