The role of personality traits in COVID-19 vaccination: A socio-cultural and gender-stratified analysis in Japan
- 1Saga University
Abstract
BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccination uptake is influenced by various sociodemographic and psychological factors. Previous studies have suggested that the relationship between personality traits and vaccination is context-dependent. However, this association has not been investigated in Japan--a unique sociocultural context characterized by historically low vaccine confidence but exceptionally high COVID-19 vaccine uptake. We examined the association between the Big Five personality traits and completion of the primary COVID-19 vaccination series, exploring potential gender-personality interactions.
MethodsA web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 7,210 Japanese adults (aged 20-85 years) in December 2021. Personality was assessed using the Japanese version of the Ten-Item Personality Inventory. Multivariable Poisson generalized estimating equations were used to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and assess gender-personality interactions.
ResultsHigher extraversion and lower openness were significantly associated with vaccination completion across genders. A significant gender-agreeableness interaction was observed: agreeableness (PR = 1.016, 95% CI: 1.008-1.024) was positively associated with vaccination completion among men but not women. A similar, though only marginally significant, interaction pattern was observed for neuroticism (PR = 1.011, 95% CI: 1.004-1.019 among men).
ConclusionsPersonality traits act as modest but meaningful, gender-specific psychological modifiers of vaccination behavior in Japan. Public health campaigns should transition from traditional "one-size-fits-all" messages to personality-tailored and gender-responsive communication strategies to optimize vaccine uptake and bolster psychological resilience in future pandemics.
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BibTeX
@misc{takamatsu2026role,
title = {{The role of personality traits in COVID-19 vaccination: A socio-cultural and gender-stratified analysis in Japan}},
author = {M. Takamatsu and M. Tokiya and M. Hara},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.04.26363389},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.04.26363389v1},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - The role of personality traits in COVID-19 vaccination: A socio-cultural and gender-stratified analysis in Japan
AU - M. Takamatsu
AU - M. Tokiya
AU - M. Hara
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/04
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.04.26363389
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.04.26363389v1
AB - BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccination uptake is influenced by various sociodemographic and psychological factors. Previous studies have suggested that the relationship between personality traits and vaccination is context-dependent. However, this association has not been investigated in Japan--a unique sociocultural context characterized by historically low vaccine confidence but exceptionally high COVID-19 vaccine uptake. We examined the association between the Big Five personality traits and completion of the primary COVID-19 vaccination series, exploring potential gender-personality interactions. MethodsA web-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted among 7,210 Japanese adults (aged 20-85 years) in December 2021. Personality was assessed using the Japanese version of the Ten-Item Personality Inventory. Multivariable Poisson generalized estimating equations were used to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and assess gender-personality interactions. ResultsHigher extraversion and lower openness were significantly associated with vaccination completion across genders. A significant gender-agreeableness interaction was observed: agreeableness (PR = 1.016, 95% CI: 1.008-1.024) was positively associated with vaccination completion among men but not women. A similar, though only marginally significant, interaction pattern was observed for neuroticism (PR = 1.011, 95% CI: 1.004-1.019 among men). ConclusionsPersonality traits act as modest but meaningful, gender-specific psychological modifiers of vaccination behavior in Japan. Public health campaigns should transition from traditional "one-size-fits-all" messages to personality-tailored and gender-responsive communication strategies to optimize vaccine uptake and bolster psychological resilience in future pandemics.
ER -