BMC Psychology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
10(1)
Published: Nov. 1, 2022
Conspiracy
theories
can
have
particularly
harmful
effects
by
negatively
shaping
health-related
behaviours.
A
significant
number
of
COVID-19
specific
conspiracy
emerged
in
the
immediate
aftermath
pandemic
outbreak.
The
aim
this
study
was
to
systematically
review
literature
on
related
during
first
year
(2020),
identify
their
prevalence,
determinants
and
public
health
consequences.
comprehensive
search
carried
out
PubMed
PsycINFO
detect
all
studies
examining
any
theory
between
January
1st
2020,
10th
2021.
Forty-three
were
included
with
a
total
61,809
participants.
Between
0.4
82.7%
participants
agreed
at
least
one
belief.
Certain
sociodemographic
factors
(young
age,
female
gender,
being
non-white,
lower
socioeconomic
status),
psychological
aspects
(pessimism,
blaming
others,
anger)
other
qualities
(political
conservatism,
religiosity,
mistrust
science
using
social
media
as
source
information)
associated
increased
acceptance
theories.
beliefs
led
behaviours
posed
serious
threat.
Large-scale
collaborations
governments
healthcare
organizations
are
needed
curb
spread
adverse
Journal of Medical Internet Research,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 30, 2024
The
COVID-19
pandemic
was
marked
by
an
infodemic,
characterized
the
rapid
spread
of
both
accurate
and
false
information,
which
significantly
affected
public
health.
This
infodemic
led
to
confusion,
mistrust
in
health
authorities,
noncompliance
with
guidelines,
engagement
risky
behaviors.
Understanding
dynamics
misinformation
during
is
crucial
for
developing
effective
communication
strategies.
Science Communication,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 10, 2025
We
present
a
new
multilingual
14-item
scale
for
measuring
science
literacy
in
survey
and
experimental
research.
The
captures
three
essential
dimensions
of
digital
world:
civic
literacy,
media
cognitive
literacy.
developed,
tested,
validated
the
through
two
preregistered
national
quota
surveys
Switzerland
United
States
four
languages
(English,
German,
French,
Italian).
Iterative
factor
analyses,
Bayesian
Item
Response
Theory
validity
tests
confirm
robustness
reliability
scale.
During
COVID-19,
conspiracy
theories
were
intensely
discussed
in
the
media.
Believing
specific
(i.e.,
explanations
for
events
based
on
powerholders’
secret
arrangements)
as
well
general
tendency
to
believe
theories—a
so-called
mentality—have
been
found
predict
cognition
and
behavior
with
negative
societal
effects,
such
low
institutional
trust.
Accordingly,
believing
around
COVID-19
should
work
against
trust,
support
of
governmental
regulations
their
adoption,
engagement
(e.g.,
helping
members
risk
groups).
We
tested
these
predictions
a
national
random
sample,
an
experimental
study,
longitudinal
study
(Ntotal
=
1,213;
all
studies
preregistered).
Indeed,
being
confronted
theory
decreased
regulations,
adoption
physical
distancing,
and—to
some
extent—social
engagement.
Findings
underscore
that
have
severe
effects
context
COVID-19.
European Journal of Social Psychology,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
51(6), P. 969 - 989
Published: June 16, 2021
We
tested
the
link
between
COVID-19
conspiracy
theories
and
health
protective
behaviours
in
three
studies:
one
at
onset
of
pandemic
United
Kingdom
(UK),
a
second
just
before
first
national
lockdown,
third
during
that
lockdown
(
BMC Psychology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
10(1)
Published: Nov. 1, 2022
Conspiracy
theories
can
have
particularly
harmful
effects
by
negatively
shaping
health-related
behaviours.
A
significant
number
of
COVID-19
specific
conspiracy
emerged
in
the
immediate
aftermath
pandemic
outbreak.
The
aim
this
study
was
to
systematically
review
literature
on
related
during
first
year
(2020),
identify
their
prevalence,
determinants
and
public
health
consequences.
comprehensive
search
carried
out
PubMed
PsycINFO
detect
all
studies
examining
any
theory
between
January
1st
2020,
10th
2021.
Forty-three
were
included
with
a
total
61,809
participants.
Between
0.4
82.7%
participants
agreed
at
least
one
belief.
Certain
sociodemographic
factors
(young
age,
female
gender,
being
non-white,
lower
socioeconomic
status),
psychological
aspects
(pessimism,
blaming
others,
anger)
other
qualities
(political
conservatism,
religiosity,
mistrust
science
using
social
media
as
source
information)
associated
increased
acceptance
theories.
beliefs
led
behaviours
posed
serious
threat.
Large-scale
collaborations
governments
healthcare
organizations
are
needed
curb
spread
adverse
