The Mediating Role of Existential Anxiety and Conspiracy Beliefs in the Relationship Between Fear of COVID-19 and the Intention to Get Vaccinated in the Iranian Population

Objective The Covid-19 epidemic has caused a great deal of concern for the people, and even worse, the issue of vaccination and its dangers is still relevant today.This study aimed to mediate the role of existential anxiety and conspiracy beliefs in the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and the intention to get vaccinated. Methods The type of research is a descriptive correlation. The statistical population of the study included Iranian adults in the age range of 20 to 65 years, from which 533 people were randomly selected and responded to the online survey. The data were analyzed by the Pearson correlation coefficient method and structural equation model. Five questionnaires including fear of COVID-19, existential anxiety, Conspiracy beliefs and Intention to get vaccinated, were distributed among the research samples. Results The results showed that there was a positive and significant correlation between fear of Covid-19 with existential anxiety and intention to get vaccinated (P <0.01), also, there is a positive and significant correlation between existential anxiety and conspiracy beliefs (P <0.01) and a negative and significant correlation between existential anxiety and conspiracy beliefs to get vaccinated (P <0.01). Conclusion The model analysis also showed that when there are anxiety and conspiracy theories between fear of Covid-19 and the intention to get vaccinated, people reduce their desire to get vaccinated.