Work

Religiosity, attitudes toward science, and public health: Evidence from Finland

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: We explore how religiosity influences perceptions and the adoption of protective health behaviours, as reflected in COVID-19 infection and vaccination rates. In the first part of our analysis, we use Finnish data from four nationally representative surveys, we find that individuals with higher self-reported religiosity and those from more conservative religious groups tend to hold less favourable attitudes towards science, technology and medicine, compared to non-religious individuals. In the second part, we observe that municipalities with higher shares of conservative religious groups experienced greater COVID-19 spread and lower vaccination rates, with these trends persisting throughout the pandemic. Our findings underscore the importance of accounting for religiosity when crafting public health policies, as it may contribute to the existence of non-compliance hotspots. • We study how religiosity relates to the adoption of protective behaviours in Finland. • Persons with higher levels of religiosity are less favourable to science and medicine. • COVID-19 incidence was higher in more religiously conservative municipalities. • Vaccination rates were lower in in more religiously conservative municipalities. • The opposite was true in municipalities high more religiously unaffiliated persons.

Source: Economics & Human Biology

DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2024.101460

Authors: Ioannis Laliotis, Evangelos Mourelatos, Joona Lohtander

Institutions: University of Patras, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of Oulu

Language: English

Topic: Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,830