Trust In Government Institutions Research Articles

Trust in government and intention to emigrate in a post-soviet country: Evidence from Azerbaijan

Intention to emigrate has been one of the most challenging issues globally over the last decade for both migrant-sending and receiving countries. Rising emigration intentions trigger migration attempts and brain drain, while migrant-receiving countries are challenged by illegal emigration. Self-perceived trust in government is one of the fundamental determinants of citizens' emigration aspirations. This research applies path analyses to explore direct and indirect effects of trust in government on emigrating intentions in a post-soviet country – Azerbaijan. Using a pool of two social survey data (N=4092,n_Male=2106,n_Female=1986,〖Mean〗_Age=31.82) within a serial mediation analysis framework, we conclude that the trust in government has a significant direct (65-70%) and indirect (30-35%) negative impact on emigration aspirations among the people of Azerbaijan. The relationship is mediated by self-reported life satisfaction. Perceived income adequacy also mediates the relationship indirectly via life satisfaction. A key novelty of the study is that, contrary to popular belief, emigration aspirations in Azerbaijan are revealed to be less economic in motivation and are mainly explained by the lack of trust in government, which also reduces individuals' satisfaction with life. Therefore, improving the quality of public services and the trust in government institutions would reverse intentions to emigrate. The research can be replicated in other developing countries, and the findings can be used to design policies aimed at controlling international emigration issues.

Innovative aspects of development of digitalization of public governance in the USA

Problem setting. The public policy in the field of digitization is aimed at forming a qualitative basis for technological evolution and creating conditions for sustainable progress in all spheres of human and society’s life. Currently, the process of digital transformation of public administration is one of the priority directions in the conditions of increasing global challenges of digital technological development. At the same time, the digital transformation of public administration is of particular importance in the conditions of increased socio-economic risks. Recent research and publications analysis. Problems of digitization, formation and development of electronic governance, provision of electronic services to the population, formation of open government, formation of electronic democracy, introduction of electronic technologies in public administration analyzed foreign and Ukrainian scientists, in particular: O. Bernazyuk, T. Birkovich, V. Birkovich, V. Dreshpak, N. Hrytsyak, O. Ka- banets, O. Karpenko, P. Klimushyn, V. Kuybida, I. Lopushynskyi, I. Makarova, V. Na- mestnik, O. Orlov, M. Pavlov, O. Parkhomenko-Kutsevil, Yu. Pigarev, H. Pocheptsov, V. Rakipov, O. Skoryk, S. Chukut, and others. Highlighting previously unsettled parts of the general problem. The purpose of the article: the introduction of digitalization of public administration in Ukraine requires a systematic analysis of foreign experience of digitalization of public administration. Presenting main material. The regulatory and legal basis for ensuring e-government activities in the USA are the following laws: Law on the elimination of paper carriers of documents in state bodies; Law on electronic signature; Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); Law on introduction of smart cards in state bodies for identification of employees, payment of travel expenses, calculation of wages, etc.; S.803 E-Government Act of 2002; Government Performance and Efficiency Act of 1993/ «Open government» (Open government), or «government of open information», also called «government 2.0» (Gov 2.0), is a further development of the concept of digitalization of public administration and enjoys great attention in the US from both the upper echelons of government and local authorities and the public. The experience of the United States demonstrates that the creation of digitalization of public administration takes place in the course of reforming the entire system of public administration in the direction of greater openness and the introduction of competitive and contractual principles; creation of specialized management structures with increased responsibility for performance results; increasing the role of ethical requirements for management; active interaction with civil society. At the same time, the following advantages of digitalization of public administration are also obvious: simplification of bureaucratic procedures, significant reduction of deadlines for the preparation of documents, provision of easily verified, strict tax accountability of legal entities and individuals through the introduction of a unified electronic accounting system, increase in the level of budget revenues, reduction of the scale of corruption and, accordingly , the growth of citizens’ trust in government institutions. Modern digital technologies have a positive impact on the quality and speed of providing administrative (state) services. The process of interaction of citizens and legal entities with executive authorities is simplified, making them more attractive and less time- consuming. The well-being of the population and the economic development of the country depend on the level of digitization of the public administration process. The information openness of state authorities is increasing. It can be noted that now there is a need to develop standards in the field of digitalization of public administration with a mandatory report on the satisfaction of the population with the work of public administration bodies. All this will increase the quality of the activities of state authorities and, accordingly, the quality of life of the population. In the perspective of further investigations, it is planned to analyze patterns, principles, methods, and tools for the development of digitalization of public administration in the countries of the European Union. Conclusions of the research and prospects fo further studies. Modern digital technologies have a positive impact on the quality and speed of providing administrative (state) services. The well-being of the population and the economic development of the country depend on the level of digitization of the public administration process. Digitization provides informational openness of state authorities. Currently, there is a need to develop standards in the field of digitization of public administration with a mandatory report on public satisfaction with the work of public administration bodies. All this will increase the quality of the activities of state authorities and, accordingly, the quality of life of the population. In the perspective of further investigations, the author intends to analyze patterns, principles, methods, and tools for the development of digitalization of public administration in the countries of the European Union.

Expanding emotional capital in court.

This article develops the concept of emotional capital by exposing its operation in proceedings between legal elite professionals. We argue that (a) the micro-structural restraints of the interaction order among the participants have to be accounted for in order to understand the dynamics of emotional capital, and; (b) the emotional processes at play have to be expanded beyond feelings of care showing how emotions can be employed to reproduce status and power. Empirical examples from criminal courts in Scotland and the United States demonstrate that judges and prosecutors depend on emotional capital to steer the legal proceedings. Emotional capital is both stable in that acquired capital often can be transferred across fields and volatile in that it presupposes interactional agreement to ensure successful emotional capital employment. In contrast, the lack of such agreement may devalue emotional capital regardless of overall capital wealth. In high status bureaucratic positions, the conversion of emotional capital into symbolic capital not only affects the authority of individual actors but reproduces public trust in governmental institutions.

Policy for temporary crisis or sustained structural change in an age of disasters, crises, and pandemics

This paper employs cases to discuss the impact of information, disinformation, and the evolution of scientific data as part of public health policy development in the COVID- 19 pandemic. The two areas of policy development center on (1) risk and public health precautions (e.g., mask mandates, cleaning protocols, and social distancing) and (2) risk and economic/travel policy (e.g., regional economic shutdown, travel restrictions, border closures). Key to the analysis is the understanding of social risk production and public trust in institutions and individuals within those institutions that craft emergency, interim, and long-lasting public policy. The paper concludes with recommendations for enhancing public trust in government institutions and the management of risks during times of disasters, crises, and pandemics.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of Quality of Life in Turkey and East European Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected societies. This study aims to evaluate the quality of life of Hungary, Slovakia, Latvia, Poland, and Estonia in comparison with Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic and to make recommendations to policymakers. The results of the “Living, Working and COVID-19 Survey” implemented by Eurofound in European countries at the beginning of the pandemic were compared between Hungary, Slovakia, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, and Turkey, and the economic, social, health and psychological impact of the pandemic on societies were examined. It has been found that the countries with the highest happiness mean scores were Latvia and Estonia, the countries with the lowest happiness mean scores were Turkey and Hungary, the countries with the highest mean satisfaction score were Estonia and Latvia, the countries with the lowest mean satisfaction score were Turkey and Slovakia. In the study, it was also determined that the countries with the highest mean score of trust in the healthcare system and government institutions were Estonia and Latvia. The results of the study indicate that the factors affecting the quality of life of the people during the pandemic differ between countries. In the study, it was determined that the countries with a high average of trust in government institutions and health systems also have high average scores of satisfaction and happiness. It is important for policymakers to have information about the factors affecting the quality of life of the society to be prepared for pandemics.

Attitudes of Directors towards Governance Practices in Government Institutions and Companies in Jordan

This research paper aimed to examine the attitudes of directors towards governance practices in government institutions and companies in Jordan. The investigated governance practices included the following pillars: legal and institutional frameworks, strategy and performance management frameworks, human capital management frameworks, resource management frameworks and operational management frameworks. The examined pillars of governance practices were measured by developing and distributing a 5-point scale questionnaire to directors who are responsible for institutional development in government institutions and companies listed in the Budgets Law of Government Units for the fiscal year 2019, the number of which was 57 government institutions and companies. The response rate was 79%. The results of one-sample t-test indicate that the attitudes of directors towards governance practices and related pillars are well above the average level. Results of correlation test indicate that there are statistically significant correlations between the five pillars of governance practices at the 0.01 significance level. The research concluded that governance practices include adherence to specifications and compliance with frameworks, guidelines and standards, thus improving the quality of service delivery and at the same time improving the use of resources, which enhances people's trust in government institutions and companies.

Experimental evidence on improving COVID-19 vaccine outreach among migrant communities on social media

Studies from several countries suggest that COVID-19 vaccination rates are lower among migrants compared to the general population. Urgent calls have been made to improve vaccine outreach to migrants, however, there is limited evidence on effective approaches, especially using social media. We assessed a targeted, low-cost, Facebook campaign disseminating COVID-19 vaccine information among Arabic, Turkish and Russian speakers in Germany (N = 888,994). As part of the campaign, we conducted two randomized, online experiments to assess the impact of the advertisement (1) language and (2) depicted messenger (government authority, religious leader, doctor or family). Key outcomes included reach, click-through rates, conversion rates and cost-effectiveness. Within 29 days, the campaign reached 890 thousand Facebook users. On average, 2.3 individuals accessed the advertised COVID-19 vaccination appointment tool for every euro spent on the campaign. Migrants were 2.4 (Arabic), 1.8 (Russian) and 1.2 (Turkish) times more likely to click on advertisements translated to their native language compared to German-language advertisements. Furthermore, findings showed that government representatives can be more successful in engaging migrants online compared to other messengers, despite common claims of lower trust in government institutions among migrants. This study highlights the potential of tailored, and translated, vaccination campaigns on social media for reaching migrants who may be left out by traditional media campaigns.

The use of innovative blockchain technology in the public finances of Ukraine in the conditions of the formation of the digital economy

The article reveals the essence of innovative blockchain technology and the features of its application in the management of financial processes in the country. The positive effects of the introduction of this technology in the field of public finance have been determined, in particular: it allows to improve the quality of control over monetary transactions, ensures information transparency and security of financial relations, reduces or eliminates transaction costs, creates a high level of trust in the participants of agreements, provides quick access to the database on financial transactions, etc.
 The following promising areas of application of blockchain technology in the public finance system are substantiated: the mechanism of public procurement, management of state investments and assets, improvement of state registers, public administration, state financial control, payment of certain taxes and fees, increase in the level of financial security of the country.
 The use of blockchain technology in public administration for the organization of electronic document flow and the formation of various registers to overcome corruption is argued. The prospects for the introduction of this platform in the field of state financial control are outlined to increase its transparency, and effectiveness and increase public trust in government institutions.
 It is proposed to expand the application of blockchain technology in the domestic taxation system, in particular, to improve the mechanism of value-added tax, which will increase the effectiveness of the fight against the use of various schemes for evading its payment. To create a favorable investment climate and attract capital investments in the country's strategic industries, the expediency of introducing the blockchain platform into the system of protection of foreign direct investments in the national economy has been substantiated.

Women’s Support Shaken: A Study of Women’s Political Trust after Natural Disasters

AbstractWomen have unique experiences during natural disasters, including higher risks of death, violence, and socioeconomic decline and an increase in specific reproductive health needs. However, government responses often do not directly address these women-specific needs, which can decrease women’s political trust. I investigate women’s trust in government institutions when natural disasters have recently occurred and argue that because of their unique experiences and typical government responses, women’s political trust will decline when there is a natural disaster more than men’s. I find that when there is a high number of disasters and when a larger percentage of the population is affected by disasters, women’s political trust decreases significantly, especially institutional trust. These findings are distinct from previous studies that cluster different types of political trust and support the idea that women’s experiences in a disaster may influence their relationship with institutions differently than men’s.

COVID-19 information and self-protective behaviors among rural communities in tropical forests

BackgroundHealth risk communication plays a key role in promoting self-protective measures, which are critical in suppressing COVID-19 contagion. Relatively little is known about the communication channels used by rural poor populations to learn novel measures and their effectiveness in promoting self-protective behaviors. Behavioral change can be shaped by people’s trust in government institutions which may be differentiated by social identity, including indigeneity.MethodsDuring an early phase of the pandemic, we conducted two telephone surveys with over 460 communities – both Indigenous and mestizo – without road access and limited communication access in the Peruvian Amazon. This is the first report on the association of information sources about self-protective measures against COVID-19 with the adoption of self-protective behaviors in remote rural areas in developing countries.ResultsPeople mainly relied on mass media (radio, television, newspapers) and interpersonal sources (local authorities, health workers, neighbors/relatives) for information and adopted handwashing, mask-wearing, social distancing, and social restrictions to varying degrees. Overall, self-protective behaviors were largely positively and negatively associated with mass media and interpersonal sources, respectively, depending on the source-measure combination. Mistrust of the government seems to have shaped how Indigenous and mestizo peoples distinctively responded to interpersonal information sources and relied on mass media.ConclusionsOur findings call for improved media access to better manage pandemics in rural areas, especially among remote Indigenous communities.

Disaster communication beyond the state? Community organisations, informal information flows and the mediation of (mis)trust before and after Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe

Over the last two decades, a number of cyclones and tropical storms have hit Zimbabwe with devastating effects. Expecting these events to happen even more frequently in the near future, a major emphasis is put on improving cyclone predictions and early warning systems. However, a main challenge appears to be in communicating the information about a potential cyclone to the affected communities. Drawing on ethnographic research in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe in the context of cyclone Idai, this article shows how a lack of information from official institutions led to the emergence of alternative communication networks. Yet, while these generally fit current trends towards bottom-up approaches and the increasing relevance of social media, the empirical insights also reveal some of the “darker sides” of informal disaster governance (Duda et al., 2020) [1]. In particular, we illustrate how a lack of trust in government institutions translates into a general mistrust among community members, further amplified by an unequal access and scepticism towards new communication tools, which severely hampers disaster communication. Overall, we therefore argue that community-based disaster communication, rather than mainly being celebrated as a successful expression of local dynamics independent from the state, offers important insights to better understand the intricate relationship between local communities and the government as it plays out in an emergency.

Video-based messages to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and nudge vaccination intentions.

Vaccines are highly effective for curbing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Yet, millions of Americans remain hesitant about getting vaccinated, jeopardizing our ability to end the COVID-19 pandemic by fueling the spread and development of new variants. We show that brief video-based messages of encouragement addressing specific COVID-19 vaccine concerns increase vaccination intentions, and that vaccination intentions, in turn, are predictive of future vaccine uptake. Results from our online experiment reveal that willingness to get vaccinated is driven by messages that increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines and perceived behavioral control to get vaccinated. Importantly, messages were particularly effective among more skeptical populations including people who identify as politically conservative or moderate and those who express low trust in government institutions. Our findings corroborate the real-world behavioral significance of vaccination intentions, and devise how even short, scalable online messages can provide governments and health authorities an inexpensive, yet effective tool for increasing intentions to vaccinate against COVID-19 among populations most reluctant to get them.

What Is the Flag We Rally Around? Trust in Information Sources at the Outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Latvia

Trust in information sources about COVID-19 may influence the public attitude toward the disease and the imposed restrictions, thus determining the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in a given country. Acknowledging an increase in trust in the government or the so-called rally ‘round the flag’ effect around the world at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study explores possible determinants of this effect in Latvia, looking at such variables as the perceived disease risk, gender, age, education, income, and language spoken in the family. Presuming that risk perception may be amplified by trust in various information sources, we investigate a spill-over of the rally ‘round the flag’ effect on healthcare professionals, media, and interpersonal networks. Studying data from a nationally representative sociological survey conducted in September 2020, we confirm a positive relationship between trust in all information sources, except friends, relatives, and colleagues, and perceived disease risk. Correlations are also strong regarding trust in almost all information sources and the measured socio-demographic variables, except gender. Interpersonal trust seems to be relatively stable, and in most cases the correlations are statistically insignificant. With this study we suggest that increase in trust in government institutions as well as other information sources, even in crisis situations, does not depend on any single element, but instead presents a more complex phenomenon.

Corruption, institutional trust and political engagement in Peru

• Experimental methods show that corruption information causally reduces citizen trust in political institutions. • Corruption information does not motivate citizen citizen political action in the form of small donations to an anti-corruption NGO. • Petty corruption information significantly decreases institutional trust while grand corruption information does not. • Discussing the consequences of corruption decreases institutional trust even when the potential consequences are positive. Widespread corruption and lack of trust in political institutions are common development problems that are likely deeply interconnected. We contribute to the existing understanding of their relationship using survey experimental methods and by investigating how different dimensions of corruption affect trust. Does grand versus petty corruption affect citizen trust in political institutions? What about corruption with positive versus negative consequences? After presenting respondents in Peru with randomly assigned information about these specific aspects of political corruption, we measure 1) attitudes about trust in government institutions and 2) behavioral engagement in anti-corruption efforts through donations to a well-known Peruvian NGO. We find that petty corruption, but not grand corruption, decreased institutional trust compared to a control. Additionally, in contrast to previous findings showing that “beneficial” corruption reduces electoral punishments for individual politicians, both positive and negative consequences decreased institutional trust. Corruption information did not alter donations to an NGO. Going beyond the correlations found in prior observational studies, this paper demonstrates a causal relationship between corruption information and institutional trust. Our results signal the importance of addressing petty corruption to improve public trust. They also emphasize important difficulties in motivating citizen action against corruption because anti-corruption messaging can decrease trust, while failing to motivate even low-cost political action.

Societal Security Trust Issues in Australia during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020

In late December 2019 and early January 2020 the first cases of a new coronavirus occurred in Wuhan. It is a virus characterised by similarities to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). On January 25, 2020 the initial case of infection by SARS-CoV-2 caused the disease COVID-19 in an Australian patient who later died from it. During my PhD thesis defence in September 2018 I would not have thought that one of the possible security scenarios which I designed for the South Pacific region, related to epidemic threats, would soon come true. Despite some obvious and high indicators resulting, for example, from a geopolitical location in the vicinity of China, the probability of an epidemic outbreak seemed nigh unbelievable. This article focuses on societal security. It is impossible to make a solid analysis of an epidemic impact on societal security in various countries in a single article; therefore, I concentrate specifically on the case of Australia. The goal of this article is to explain how Australians cope with the epidemic and if they are prepared for a drastic change in their lifestyles. Do they put trust in governmental institutions? What issues appear to be main societal threats in Australian society during the pandemic? I conclude with thoughts about new societal directions that are going to be implemented should the scale of the pandemic persist. Due to limited length, my overview is not exhaustive; instead, it focuses on core findings about the condition of Australian society during the pandemic.

Civil Rights in Times of Uncertainty (The Anthropocene)

Although there have been significant civil rights gains made in recent decades, the United States is now experiencing a resurgence of many of the societal ills that have plagued the country for decades. From an insurrection that was seemingly inspired by white supremacist ideology to ongoing examples of police brutality against Black people, anti-Asian violence, anti-LGBTQ violence, and recurring islamophobia, the country sits at an apparent crossroads. There is an urgent need to advance a civil rights agenda that addresses the impact of these societal ills on the affected communities. At the same time, however, we are confronting these ills during a point in history that urges us to think both within and beyond our national borders and boundaries. For many citizens across the globe, similar societal ills exist and are coupled with the challenges presented by our warming planet. Moreover, since the spring of 2020, these dilemmas have been embedded within the throes of an ostensibly unending global pandemic. Indeed, the COVID-19 virus has, in many ways, exacerbated our societal ills and amplified existing inequalities. For instance, more privileged global populations have priority access to lifesaving vaccines. Meanwhile, the risks presented by climate disruption are also unevenly distributed, with such risks being mitigated more by economic comfort than by geography or preparedness. As if these challenges were not enough, online disinformation is a growing concern in this era of COVID-19 and climate disruption. The spread of misleading or patently false information about both the pandemic and global warming poses significant threats to alleviating the harms of each. By creating collective uncertainty about the pandemic, climate change, and a host of other societal issues, disinformation undermines public trust in governmental institutions and, in many cases, adversely affects the already frayed relationship these institutions have with vulnerable populations. Moreover, in a world where communication increasingly happens online, digital disinformation challenges the meaning of truth and breathes life into the extremist ideas that often proliferate on social media. Yet attempting to curb the harms of online disinformation implicates concerns over free speech and free association in cyberspace, which in turn implicates broader concerns over digital rights. Along with climate change, both of these emergent themes—COVID-19 and online disinformation—represent the uncertainty of our changing times and, because they often disproportionately or adversely impact vulnerable populations, pose new challenges for civil rights and democracy. Each of these themes also links two different but interconnected affairs: one that focuses on the civil rights issues of our local and national communities, and the other that focuses on the related wellness of our global neighbors and larger concerns over planetary life. Connecting local civil rights–based issues to similar global matters is of increasing importance because it coincides with the emergence of the Anthropocene: the “catch-all description of the overwhelming impact of human activity on the planet.” While often viewed through the lens of climate change, the Anthropocene is also a theoretical tool for contesting the deep-rooted political and socioeconomic inequalities of the present. Social scientists have employed this theory to examine such socioeconomic and governmental issues arising from systematic inequalities and injustices on a global scale. This Foreword therefore highlights how recent transnational debates regarding issues presented by COVID-19 and online disinformation implicate broader civil and human rights concerns. It argues that being mindful of these pervasive issues—which affect the local, the global, and the planetary—is paramount to the ethos of civil rights and democracy in the uncertain times of the Anthropocene. As the Articles in this Colloquium reveal, promoting civil rights at home is an ongoing, multi-dimensional project. This Foreword advocates a broader view of that project as encompassing the range of issues that define our current struggle with planetary and global justice.

TRENDS OF CITIZENS' TRUST TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT BODIES IN KRYVIY RIH AND COMMUNICATIVE INCENTIVES FOR ITS INCREASE

Objective. The objective of the study is to determine the trends in citizens' trust in the local self-government bodies of Kryvyi Rih and to develop practical recommendations for ensuring effective communication between the local self-government bodies and the public, which would contribute to increasing the level of trust. Methods. When preparing the article, general and special methods of scientific research on the level of public trust are applied, such as empirical, in particular, observation, questionnaires, generalization of independent characteristics, methods of statistical analysis, in particular, consideration of the dynamics of the level of trust, determination of the main development trends, determination of shares, etc. The results. Aspects of the formation of trust in local self-government bodies are studied; its concept is revealed; and its place and role in the functioning of public institutions are shown. It is determined that the problem of a low level of civic activity and civic trust is due to the negative historical context (permanent corruption of the government, its inability to solve the problems of the country's citizens, human rights violations, etc.), the impact of the global pandemic of COVID-19, and the general quarantine, which led, according to the testimony of experts, to a significant deterioration of the socio-political climate in the regions and negative assessments of the activities of subjects of power and state institutions and institutions. It is noted that this leads to the spread of distrust and destructive attitudes among citizens, which can mean not only another deterioration of the authority's reputation but also creates the basis for mass protests with both social and political demands. It is emphasized that citizens' trust in public authorities should be considered, firstly, as one of the main factors increasing social well-being and, secondly, as a driving force for effective social development through the implementation of reforms. It should be noted that Ukrainian society in recent years has remained one of the most dissatisfied and distrustful in Europe. There is a low level of trust in government institutions, regardless of who heads them. The authors made an attempt to research the trends of citizens' trust in local self-government bodies using the example of interaction between local self-government bodies and the Kryvyi Rih community. It is emphasized that, despite the Kryvyi Rih City Council's sufficient efforts to ensure the improvement of public welfare and the quality of administrative service provision, the pole of citizen distrust significantly prevails, but these results can also be evidence that society is ready for changes and reforms in the field of local self-government. The authors propose a complex of strategically important measures, including communication measures, to increase the level of trust in local self-government bodies, which are of practical importance, especially at the present time when martial law is in effect on the territory of Ukraine. The authors believe that it is necessary to develop a crisis communication strategy known as "Friendly Self-Government," which would allow the Kryvyi Rih City Council to ensure proper crisis communication capacity through clear instructions on the procedure of actions of the main managers, members of the anti-crisis team, and spokespersons in the event of a crisis situation, and which would take into account the psychological burden residents of the community, allowing to redistribute resources.

COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Attitudes and Beliefs in Canada: National Cross-sectional Survey and Cluster Analysis.

BackgroundThere are concerns that vaccine hesitancy may impede COVID-19 vaccine rollout and prevent the achievement of herd immunity. Vaccine hesitancy is a delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite their availability.ObjectiveWe aimed to identify which people are more and less likely to take a COVID-19 vaccine and factors associated with vaccine hesitancy to inform public health messaging.MethodsA Canadian cross-sectional survey was conducted in Canada in October and November 2020, prior to the regulatory approval of the COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine hesitancy was measured by respondents answering the question “what would you do if a COVID-19 vaccine were available to you?” Negative binomial regression was used to identify the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Cluster analysis was performed to identify distinct clusters based on intention to take a COVID-19 vaccine, beliefs about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines, and adherence to nonpharmaceutical interventions.ResultsOf 4498 participants, 2876 (63.9%) reported COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy was significantly associated with (1) younger age (18-39 years), (2) lower education, and (3) non-Liberal political leaning. Participants that reported vaccine hesitancy were less likely to believe that a COVID-19 vaccine would end the pandemic or that the benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine outweighed the risks. Individuals with vaccine hesitancy had higher prevalence of being concerned about vaccine side effects, lower prevalence of being influenced by peers or health care professionals, and lower prevalence of trust in government institutions.ConclusionsThese findings can be used to inform targeted public health messaging to combat vaccine hesitancy as COVID-19 vaccine administration continues. Messaging related to preventing COVID among friends and family, highlighting the benefits, emphasizing safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination, and ensuring that health care workers are knowledgeable and supported in their vaccination counselling may be effective for vaccine-hesitant populations.

ДОВЕРИЕ К ВЛАСТИ В РЕСПУБЛИКЕ АДЫГЕЕ И КРАСНОДАРСКОМ КРАЕ (ПО РЕЗУЛЬТАТАМ ПРИКЛАДНОГО ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ)

Objective of the study is determine the level of citizens' trust in government institutions in the conditions of the COVID crisis in the Republic of Adygea and the Krasnodar Territory. The methodological basis of the research consists of an interdisciplinary approach to measuring trust in authority; the principle of consistency made it possible to consider the interaction of authority and society in the context of structural and functional changes in this system; the survey method made it possible to measure the level of trust in the authorities and assess the impact of the pandemic, to develop mechanisms to strengthen trust in the authorities, taking into account the regional specifics; the method of analysis of secondary sociological information allowed to correlate the data obtained in the course of empirical research; the comparative method made it possible to compare the level of trust in the authorities in the two regions, as well as to analyze the features of the manifestation of trust in the authorities in the studied regions, based on the differences in their political and legal status (national republic and territory). Research results. Sociological research data confirm a rather low level of citizens' trust in regional institutions of power. Based on the assessments of the population of the two regions, the main factors on which the level of trust in the authorities depends are: first, the strengthening of the personal responsibility of the heads of the authorities; secondly, the openness and transparency of the activities of the authorities; third, it is necessary to take public opinion into account when making decisions. Prospects of the study. The research results can be used to calculate the trust index and analyze its main components and characteristics at the regional level; determination of information and communication, organizational, legal and other technologies for increasing public trust in the authorities, including in the space of social media; identification of effective mechanisms for strengthening institutional trust; revealing ways to improve the efficiency of management technologies in order to strengthen public trust in regional authorities.

Trust in a Pandemic: Save Cannot Be Changed. What Does the Region Feel?

Trust as a system-forming factor of social relations during crisis situations is tested for strength. This was most pronounced when studying the state of trust in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, which has engulfed almost the entire planet. The article examines the situation with trust, using the example of a regional community. The source of empirical data was the results of several surveys of the population of the Vologda Oblast conducted by researchers of the VolRC RAS for the period from2016 to 2020. in the course of the implementation of scientific projects on grants from the RFBR The data obtained on the basis of comparable methods in the period before the pandemic and at the end of its second wave are analyzed. The purpose of the article is to carry out a comparative analysis of the available statistical data and to identify the changes that have occurred in the level and structure of trust in the region’s population. The paper concludes that in the context of a pandemic, the existing level of generalized trust, the existing structure and its radius have generally remained. At the same time, certain changes were revealed in the sphere of abstract trust or, to use the terminology of E. Giddens, trust in “anonymous others”. The changes concerned primarily the priorities in choosing the addressees of trust. The observed changes reflected the pain points of society during the crisis. Trust in doctors and teachers, expert scientists has fallen. The sharp decline in the level of trust in them can be seen as a kind of expression of protest against the difficult situation in education and health care, which has developed as a result of the pandemic and self-isolation. Trust in government institutions remains stable, which to a certain extent symbolize the stability of social structures and take responsibility in the current situation.