Beliefs in Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation About COVID-19: Comparative Perspectives on the Role of Anxiety, Depression and Exposure to and Trust in Information Sources
David D. Coninck, Thomas Frissen, Koen Matthijs, Leen D’Haenens, Grégoire Lits, Olivier Champagne-Poirier, Marie-Eve Carignan, Marc D. David, Nathalie Pignard-Cheynel, Sébastien Salerno & Mélissa Généreux
| Abstract |
While COVID-19 spreads aggressively and rapidly across the globe,
many societies have also witnessed the spread of other viral
phenomena like misinformation, conspiracy theories, and general
mass suspicions about what is really going on. This study
investigates how exposure to and trust in information sources, and
anxiety and depression, are associated with conspiracy and
misinformation beliefs in eight countries/regions (Belgium, Canada,
England, Philippines, Hong Kong, New Zealand, United States,
Switzerland) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected in
an online survey fielded from May 29, 2020 to June 12, 2020,
resulting in a multinational representative sample of 8,806 adult
respondents. Results indicate that greater exposure to traditional
media (television, radio, newspapers) is associated with lower
conspiracy and misinformation beliefs, while exposure to
politicians and digital media and personal contacts are associated
with greater conspiracy and misinformation beliefs. Exposure to
health experts is associated with lower conspiracy beliefs only.
Higher feelings of depression are also associated with greater
conspiracy and misinformation beliefs. We also found relevant
group- and country differences. We discuss the implications of
these results. |
| Keywords |
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| Citation | Coninck, D. D., Frissen, T., Matthijs, K., d’Haenens, L., Lits, G., Champagne-Poirier, O., Carignan, M. E., David, M. D., Pignard-Cheynel, N., Salerno, S., & Généreux, M. (2021). Beliefs in Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation About COVID-19: Comparative Perspectives on the Role of Anxiety, Depression and Exposure to and Trust in Information Sources. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1340-1353. |
| Type | Journal article (English) |
| Date of appearance | 3-5-2021 |
| Journal | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Volume | 12 |
| Pages | 1340-1353 |
| URL | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.6... |
| Related project | Role of communication strategies and media discourse in C... |