Exploring experiences of intergroup conflict among COVID-19 vaccination groups

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dc.contributor.advisorSalie, Mariamen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorVenter, Zanderen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Psychology.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-04T07:43:36Zen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-26T19:30:33Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2024-03-04T07:43:36Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2024-04-26T19:30:33Zen_ZA
dc.date.issued2024-03en_ZA
dc.descriptionThesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: The COVID-19 vaccine has stirred up a noticeable divide between those who have been vaccinated and those who have not. As a result, new social groups have emerged based on vaccination status, and this status has become a shared identity with realworld consequences. Research indicates that identifying as part of a vaccination group can lead to intergroup behaviours, such as favouritism towards one's own group and bias against others. Additionally, international studies have reported tension between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, with instances of stigmatisation and discrimination towards the latter. This study aims to delve into the experiences of intergroup conflict among three COVID-19 vaccination groups, namely Vaccine Acceptant, Resistant and Hesitant groups, building upon the scarce qualitative literature currently available on the subject. Methods: Twenty-two participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams, a video conferencing software, for 30-60 minutes between November 2022 and March 2023. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and then analysed using thematic analysis. ATLAS.ti, a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software, aided the data analysis process. Findings: The findings were presented in two main sections. The first section described the three groups that participated in the study, focusing on highlighting the common motivations, values, and beliefs discussed among the participants in each group. The second section highlighted the main themes associated with the experiences of intergroup conflict. The second section comprised of six themes and nineteen sub-themes. The six themes were: (1) Negative out-group perceptions, (2) In-group perceptions and favouritism, (3) The expressions and manifestations of intergroup conflict, (4) Barriers and accelerators, (5) Consequences and impacts of intergroup conflict, (6) Cooperation and conflict management strategies. The study found that the participants held negative perceptions towards individuals outside their own COVID-19 vaccination group , while favouring their own group. Many participants reported feeling pressure, judgement, and stigma related to their vaccination attitudes. Additionally, the participants viewed vaccination policies as a form of coercion and a violation of their human rights, which had detrimental effects on their well-being. The study also revealed that intergroup conflicts negatively impacted several interpersonal relationships and increased the participants' identification with their own groups. To reduce conflict, participants avoided direct confrontations and expressed the importance of respecting out-group opinions on the vaccine. Discussion: There is a need to understand vaccination attitudes as a group identity that can contribute towards a positive social identity. The study showed that participants attempted to positively differentiate their own group from other vaccination groups to enhance their self-esteem. The tension and conflict between COVID-19 vaccination groups transpired into experiences of pressure, judgement, and stigma, particularly among hesitant and resistant groups. Understanding these experiences is essential to implement strategies to minimise conflict. Enhancing intergroup cooperation has important implications from a public health perspective and may increase vaccine acceptance. Social Identity Theory (SIT) provides valuable insights into the intergroup conflict between vaccination groups and may inform strategies to reduce intergroup conflict and increase vaccine acceptance.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Inleiding: Die COVID-19-entstof het ’n merkbare skeiding opgewek tussen diegene wat ingeënt is en diegene wat nie ingeënt is nie. As gevolg hiervan het nuwe sosiale groepe ontstaan op grond van inentingstatus, wat ’n gedeelde identiteit met werklike-wêreld gevolge geword het. Navorsing dui daarop dat identifisering as deel van ’n inentingsgroep kan lei tot intergroep gedrag, soos begunstiging teenoor jou eie groep en vooroordeel teenoor ander. Internasionale studies het spanning tussen ingeënt en ongeënt groepe gerapporteer, met gevalle van stigmatisering en diskriminasie teenoor laasgenoemde. Hierdie studie se doel is om te delf in die ervarings van intergroep konflik tussen COVID-19 inentingsgroepe, gebou op die beperkte kwalitatiewe literatuur wat tans oor die onderwerp beskikbaar is. Metodes: Twee-en-twintig navorsingsdeelnemers is gewerf deur doelgerigte en sneeubal monsterneming metodes. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is uitgevoer via Microsoft Teams, ’n videokonferensie sagteware, vir 30-60 minute tussen November 2022 en Maart 2023. Die onderhoude is opgeneem, getranskribeer en ontleed deur ’n tematiese analise. ATLAS.ti, ’n rekenaargesteunde kwalitatiewe data-analise, het die data-analise proses aangehelp. Bevindinge: Die bevindings word uitgebeeld binne twee hoofafdelings. Die eerste afdeling verskaf ’n beskrywing van die drie groepe wat aan die studie deelgeneem het, met ’n fokus op die beklemtoning van algemene motiverings, waardes en oortuigings wat die deelnemers in elke groep bespreek. Die tweede afdeling beklemtoon die hooftemas wat verband hou met die ervarings van intergroep konflik. Die tweede gedeelte bevat ses temas en negentien sub-temas. Die ses temas sluit in: (1) Negatiewe uit-groep persepsies, (2) Ingroep persepsies en begunstiging, (3) Die uitdrukkings en betoning van intergroep konflik, (4) hindernisse en versnellers, (5) Gevolge en impakte van intergroep konflik, (6) Samewerking en konflikbestuurstrategieë. Die studie het bevind dat die deelnemers se persepsies negatief was teenoor ongeënt groepe maar gunstig was teenoor hulle eie. Baie deelnemers het gevoelens van druk, oordeel en stigma gerapporteer, wat verband hou met inentingshoudings. Daarbenewens het die deelnemers inentingsbeleide as ’n vorm van menseregte skending beskou, wat ’n nadelige impak op hul welstand gehad het. Die studie het ook uitgelig dat intergroep konflikte verskeie interpersoonlike verhoudings negatief beïnvloed het wat deelnemers se herkenning met hul eie groepe verhoog het. Om konflik te verminder het deelnemers direkte konfrontasies vermy en die belangrikheid van respek vir uit-groepe se menings oor die entstof, beklemtoon. Bespreking: Daar is ’n behoefte om inentingshouding as ’n groep identiteit te verstaan wat kan bydra tot ’n positiewe sosiale identiteit. Die studie het getoon dat deelnemers probeer het om hul groep positief te onderskei van ander inentingsgroepe vir verbeterde self-agting. Die spanning en konflik tussen COVID-19 inentingsgroepe het gelei na ervarings van druk, oordeel en stigma, veral onder huiwerige en weerstandige groepe. Om hierdie ervarings te verstaan moet strategieë geïmplementeer word om konflik te verminder. Die verbetering van intergroep samewerking het belangrike implikasies van ’n openbare gesondheid perspektief en kan die aanvaarding van entstowwe verhoog. Sosiale Identiteitsteorie bied waardevolle insae oor intergroep konflik tussen inentingsgroepe en kan strategieë inlig om dit te verminder en om die aanvaarding van entstowwe te verhoog.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMastersen_ZA
dc.format.extentxiii, 164 pagesen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130490en_ZA
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshIntergroup relations en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSocial groups -- Psychological aspects en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCOVID-19 vaccines en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshGroup identity en_ZA
dc.titleExploring experiences of intergroup conflict among COVID-19 vaccination groupsen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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