Factors associated with psychological resilience, COVID-19-related anxiety, and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among academic professionals

Abstract

This study evaluated psychological resilience, COVID-19-related anxiety, and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, together with factors independently associated with these outcomes, among academic professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted between September and November 2021 among academic professionals at Inonu University, T & uuml;rkiye (n = 718). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS). Univariate general linear models and multivariable linear regression analyses were used for BRS and CAS scores, while multivariable logistic regression was used for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was present in 42.3% of participants. Chronic comorbidity status was the only variable independently associated with higher CAS scores (B = 1.269; p < 0.001). Higher BRS scores were independently associated with older age category (B = 0.559; p = 0.044), male sex (B = 1.054; p = 0.003), and confidence in healthcare professionals' COVID-19-related knowledge (B = 0.766; p = 0.021), whereas vaccinated participants had lower BRS scores than unvaccinated participants (B = - 1.828; p = 0.006). Vaccine hesitancy was significantly lower among participants aged 45-59 years than among those aged <= 44 years (OR = 0.541; p = 0.002), current smokers (OR = 0.533; p = 0.008), those perceiving COVID-19 vaccines as protective (OR = 0.055; p < 0.001) or undecided about protectiveness (OR = 0.225; p = 0.031), those supporting mandatory vaccination (OR = 0.234; p < 0.001), and those reporting confidence in healthcare professionals' COVID-19-related knowledge (OR = 0.362; p < 0.001). Overall, COVID-19-related anxiety, psychological resilience, and vaccine hesitancy among academic professionals were associated with distinct clinical, demographic, and trust-related factors, highlighting the relevance of health-vulnerability assessment and trust-oriented vaccination communication in academic settings.