Working memory capacity and thinking styles unable to predict COVID-19 vaccination

Abstract

Failure to comply with vaccination mandates during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic posed a great challenge to the Canadian health care system. Choosing not to vaccinate may reflect concerns about the costs of vaccination and dismissal of its public health benefits. This study investigated if this decision-making is associated with limits of one’s mental capacity, specifically working memory capacity. In addition, the degree to which individuals choose to approach decisions with either experiential (intuitive) or rational (logical) thinking styles were considered. To measure these cognitive functions, participants completed the n-Back task as well as the Rational Experiential Inventory-40 questionnaire. The purpose of this study was to investigate if working memory capacity and individuals’ thinking styles can predict attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination status. However, our findings did not provide evidence that thinking styles or working memory capacity predicted vaccination status. Notably, we found that attitudes surrounding COVID-19 vaccination, such as concerns regarding the safety of the vaccine, were significant predictors of vaccination. The results of this study propose that executive functioning levels cannot predict vaccination.