Assessing the psychological factors associated with vaccine hesitancy: psychometric properties of the psychological factors in healthcare behavior questionnaire (PF-HBQ)

Introduction

Health-related decision-making is influenced by a complex interplay of cognitive, emotional, and personality-related factors. Psychological characteristics such as distress, personality traits, and maladaptive cognitive patterns play a central role in shaping how individuals perceive medical information, engage with healthcare systems, and adhere to health-related recommendations. Understanding these determinants is essential for clarifying individual differences in healthcare behaviors and for informing effective interventions in clinical and public health contexts. The present research introduces the Psychological Factors in Healthcare Behavior Questionnaire (PF-HBQ), a novel instrument designed to assess psychological dimensions relevant to healthcare-related decision-making. Overall, the PF-HBQ was developed to capture individual differences in psychological functioning that may influence attitudes and behaviors in medical contexts.