Antecedents and consequences of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs: A systematic review

Social Science & Medicine, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 301, P. 114912 - 114912

Published: March 14, 2022

Belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories can have severe consequences; it is therefore crucial to understand this phenomenon, its similarities with general belief, but also how context-dependent. The aim of systematic review provide a comprehensive overview the available research on beliefs and synthesise make widely accessible. We present synthesis belief from 85 international articles, identified appraised through review, line contemporary protocols guidelines for reviews. identify number potential antecedents (individual differences, personality traits, demographic variables, attitudes, thinking styles biases, group identity, trust authorities, social media use), their consequences (protective behaviours, self-centred misguided behaviours such as hoarding pseudoscientific health practices, vaccination intentions, psychological wellbeing, other negative discrimination violence), effect sizes relations beliefs. conclude that understanding both they are context-dependent highly important tackle them, whether pandemic or future threats, climate change.

Language: Английский

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Conspiracy Theories and Their Societal Effects During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Social Psychological and Personality Science, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 13(1), P. 49 - 59

Published: March 19, 2021

During COVID-19, conspiracy theories were intensely discussed in the media. Generally, both believing (i.e., explanations for events based on powerholders’ secret arrangements) and being confronted with a theory have been found to predict cognition behavior negative societal effects, such as low institutional trust. Accordingly, around COVID-19 should reduce trust, support of governmental regulations their adoption, social engagement (e.g., helping members risk groups). We tested these predictions national random sample survey, an experiment, longitudinal study ( N total = 1,213; all studies preregistered). Indeed, decreased regulations, adoption physical distancing, and—to some extent—social engagement. Findings underscore severe effects context COVID-19.

Language: Английский

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Irrational beliefs differentially predict adherence to guidelines and pseudoscientific practices during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Applied Cognitive Psychology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 35(2), P. 486 - 496

Published: Nov. 29, 2020

In the coronavirus "infodemic," people are exposed to official recommendations but also potentially dangerous pseudoscientific advice claimed protect against COVID-19. We examined whether irrational beliefs predict adherence COVID-19 guidelines as well susceptibility such misinformation. Irrational were indexed by belief in conspiracy theories, knowledge overestimation, type I error cognitive biases, and intuition. Participants (

Language: Английский

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Association of COVID-19 Misinformation with Face Mask Wearing and Social Distancing in a Nationally Representative US Sample

Health Communication, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 36(1), P. 6 - 14

Published: Nov. 22, 2020

Wide-spread misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges for communicating public health recommendations. Should campaigns to promote protective behaviors focus on debunking or targeting behavior-specific beliefs? To address this question, we examine whether belief in is directly associated with two (face mask wearing and social distancing), beliefs can account association better predict behavior, consistent behavior-change theory. We conducted a nationally representative two-wave survey of U.S. adults from 5/26/20-6/12/20 (n = 1074) 7/15/20-7/21//20 889; follow-up response 83%). Scales were developed validated related beliefs, distancing face wearing, consequences both behaviors. Cross-lagged panel linear regression models assessed relationships among variables. While was negatively (B −.27, SE =.06) social-distancing −.46, =.08) measured at same time, did not concurrent lagged behavior when incorporated models. Beliefs behavioral outcomes accounted distancing, cross-sectionally =.43, =.05; B =.63, =.09) over time =.20, 04; =.30, =.08). In conclusion, COVID-19-related less relevant behaviors, but these are important predictors. With regard misinformation, recommend aimed promoting emphasize benefits rather than unrelated false claims.

Language: Английский

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COVID-19 Misinformation Trends in Australia: Prospective Longitudinal National Survey

Journal of Medical Internet Research, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 23(1), P. e23805 - e23805

Published: Dec. 10, 2020

Background Misinformation about COVID-19 is common and has been spreading rapidly across the globe through social media platforms other information systems. Understanding what public knows identifying beliefs based on misinformation can help shape effective health communications to ensure efforts reduce viral transmission are not undermined. Objective This study aimed investigate prevalence factors associated with in Australia their changes over time. Methods prospective, longitudinal national survey was completed by adults (18 years above) April (n=4362), May (n=1882), June (n=1369) 2020. Results Stronger agreement younger age, male gender, lower education level, language than English spoken at home (P<.01 for all). After controlling these variables, were significantly (P<.001) levels of digital literacy, perceived threat COVID-19, confidence government, trust scientific institutions. Analyses specific government-identified revealed 3 clusters: prevention (associated gender age), causation level greater disadvantage), cure age). Lower institutional rejection official government accounts stronger misinformation. Conclusions The findings this highlight important gaps communication effectiveness, which must be addressed prevention.

Language: Английский

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Unwillingness to engage in behaviors that protect against COVID-19: the role of conspiracy beliefs, trust, and endorsement of complementary and alternative medicine

BMC Public Health, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 21(1)

Published: April 8, 2021

Abstract Background We investigated if people’s response to the official recommendations during COVID-19 pandemic is associated with conspiracy beliefs related COVID-19, a distrust in sources providing information on and an endorsement of complementary alternative medicine (CAM). Methods The sample consisted 1325 Finnish adults who filled out online survey marketed Facebook. Structural regression analysis was used investigate whether: 1) beliefs, sources, CAM predict non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented by government pandemic, 2) are willingness take vaccine. Results Individuals more lower trust were less likely have positive NPIs. unwilling Distrust strongest most consistent predictor all models. Our analyses also revealed that some people respond negatively NPIs likelihood This association partly sources. Conclusions Distrusting establishment provide accurate information, believing theories, endorsing treatments substances not part conventional medicine, negative guidelines COVID-19. How guidelines, however, strongly consistently degree they feel than their tendency hold or endorse CAM. These findings highlight need for governments health authorities create communication strategies build public trust.

Language: Английский

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The causes, impacts and countermeasures of COVID-19 “Infodemic”: A systematic review using narrative synthesis

Information Processing & Management, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 58(6), P. 102713 - 102713

Published: Aug. 4, 2021

Language: Английский

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Results of the COVID-19 mental health international for the general population (COMET-G) study

European Neuropsychopharmacology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 54, P. 21 - 40

Published: Oct. 16, 2021

Language: Английский

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The Determinants of Conspiracy Beliefs Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Nationally Representative Sample of Internet Users

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 17(21), P. 7818 - 7818

Published: Oct. 26, 2020

An overwhelming flood of misinformation is accompanying the pandemic COVID-19. Fake news and conspiracy theories are so prevalent that World Health Organization started as early February 2020 to use term "infodemic". This paper focused on assessment prevalence beliefs in related COVID-19 Polish society. The association support for with sociodemographic variables, health literacy (HL) eHealth (eHL) was studied. analysis reported here based data from an online survey a representative sample (

Language: Английский

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Beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, compliance with the preventive measures, and trust in government medical officials

Current Psychology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 41(10), P. 7448 - 7458

Published: May 26, 2021

Language: Английский

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