Pignard-Cheynel, Nathalie

2022-4-22, Pignard-Cheynel, Nathalie, Salerno, Sébastien

Our study provides an in-depth understanding of how young audiences (18-25 years old) are exposed to news and misinformation and how they attribute credibility to both types of content. It also advances journalistic practices in the fight against misinformation by producing digital formats and narratives with a visual focus adapted to young audiences. Our study covers six focus groups with 44 participants in four Swiss cantons and extended by 12 interviews conducted between 2019 and 2020. The participants were exposed to misinformation, fact-checking content produced by online news media, and original journalistic productions in line with the first results of the research and specially created by journalism students.

2021-5-1, Généreux, Mélissa, Schluter, Philip J., Landaverde, Elsa, Hung, Kevin K., Wong, Chi S., Pui Yin Mok, Catherine, Blouin-Genest, Gabriel, O’Sullivan, Tracey, David, Marc D., Champagne-Poirier, Olivier, Pignard-Cheynel, Nathalie, Salerno, Sébastien, Lits, Grégoire, d’Haenens, Leen, Coninck, David D., Matthys, Koenraad, Champagne, Eric, Burlone, Nathalie, Qadar, Zeeshan, Herbosa, Teodoro, Law, Ronald, Murray, Virginia, Chan, Emily Y.Y., Roy, Mathieu

Nearly a year after the classification of the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic, it is clear that different factors have contributed to an increase in psychological disorders, including public health measures that infringe on personal freedoms, growing financial losses, and conflicting messages. This study examined the evolution of psychosocial impacts with the progression of the pandemic in adult populations from different countries and continents, and identified, among a wide range of individual and country-level factors, which ones are contributing to this evolving psychological response. An online survey was conducted in May/June 2020 and in November 2020, among a sample of 17,833 adults (Phase 1: 8806; Phase 2: 9027) from eight countries/regions (Canada, the United States, England, Switzerland, Belgium, Hong Kong, the Philippines, New Zealand). Probable generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive episode (MDE) were assessed. The independent role of potential factors was examined using multilevel logistic regression. Probable GAD or MDE was indicated by 30.1% and 32.5% of the respondents during phases 1 and 2, respectively (a 7.9% increase over time), with an important variation according to countries/regions (range from 22.3% in Switzerland to 38.8% in the Philippines). This proportion exceeded 50% among young adults (18–24 years old) in all countries except for Switzerland. Beyond young age, several factors negatively influenced mental health in times of pandemic; important factors were found, including weak sense of coherence (adjusted odds ratio aOR = 3.89), false beliefs (aOR = 2.33), and self-isolation/quarantine (aOR = 2.01). The world has entered a new era dominated by psychological suffering and rising demand for mental health interventions, along a continuum from health promotion to specialized healthcare. More than ever, we need to innovate and build interventions aimed at strengthening key protective factors, such as sense of coherence, in the fight against the adversity caused by the concurrent pandemic and infodemic.

2020-11-13, Généreux, Mélissa, Schluter, Philip J., Hung, Kevin K., Wong, Chi S., O’Sullivan, Tracey, David, Marc D., Carignan, Marie-Eve, Blouin-Genest, Gabriel, Champagne-Poirier, Olivier, Champagne, Eric, Burlone, Nathalie, Qadar, Zeeshan, Herbosa, Teodoro, Ribeiro-Alves, Gleisse, Law, Ronald, Murray, Virginia, Chan, Emily Y.Y., Pignard-Cheynel, Nathalie, Salerno, Sébastien, Lits, Grégoire, d’Haenens, Leen, Coninck, David D., Matthys, Koenraad, Roy, Mathieu

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic brought about several features that increased the sense of fear and confusion, such as quarantine and financial losses among other stressors, which may have led to adverse psychosocial outcomes. The influence of such stressors took place within a broader sociocultural context that needs to be considered. The objective was to examine how the psychological response to the pandemic varied across countries and identify which risk/protective factors contributed to this response. An online survey was conducted from 29 May 2020–12 June 2020, among a multinational sample of 8806 adults from eight countries/regions (Canada, United States, England, Switzerland, Belgium, Hong Kong, Philippines, New Zealand). Probable generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depression episode (MDE) were assessed. The independent role of a wide range of potential factors was examined using multilevel logistic regression. Probable GAD and MDE were indicated by 21.0% and 25.5% of the respondents, respectively, with an important variation according to countries/regions (GAD: 12.2–31.0%; MDE: 16.7–32.9%). When considered together, 30.2% of the participants indicated probable GAD or MDE. Several factors were positively associated with a probable GAD or MDE, including (in descending order of importance) weak sense of coherence (SOC), lower age, false beliefs, isolation, threat perceived for oneself/family, mistrust in authorities, stigma, threat perceived for country/world, financial losses, being a female, and having a high level of information about COVID-19. Having a weak SOC yielded the highest adjusted odds ratio for probable GAD or MDE (3.21; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.73–3.77). This pandemic is having an impact on psychological health. In some places and under certain circumstances, however, people seem to be better protected psychologically. This is a unique opportunity to evaluate the psychosocial impacts across various sociocultural backgrounds, providing important lessons that could inform all phases of disaster risk management.

2022-2-4, Salerno, Sébastien, Pignard-Cheynel, Nathalie

The Covid-19 pandemic spread in Switzerland and with it, misinformation and conspiracy theories (Loomba et al. 2021). Adherence to misinformation and conspiracy theories may have increased the difficulties associated with the coronavirus crisis (Enders et al. 2021). Negative effects on mental health due to media exposure have been established (Wang et al. 2020). Some beliefs led to risky behavior and violence in the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic (Vincent 2020). The growth of conspiracy theories seems to find fertile ground in situations of fear and mistrust (Shahsavari et al., 2020). What were the sources of information, the scale of exposure to misinformation, and their psychosocial effects during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic? Which social and political characteristics were most affected by misinformation about Covid-19? How does the Covid-19 reveal the socio-political situations of different countries? To study information sources, as well as trust in different information channels and sources, exposure to and reception of misinformation, we relied on a questionnaire survey conducted in Switzerland and seven other countries/regions (Canada, USA, England, Belgium, Hong Kong, Philippines, New Zealand) between May and June (N=8806) and in November (N=9027). The results of our study show that adherence to false beliefs, as well as low trust in authorities, may have negatively influenced the psychological reaction of respondents during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The level of anxiety increased between the first and second waves, with a lower level for Switzerland compared to other countries.

2020-12-7, Pignard-Cheynel, Nathalie, Salerno, Sébastien, Carlino, Vincent

2021-5-3, Coninck, David D., Frissen, Thomas, Matthijs, Koen, d’Haenens, Leen, Lits, Grégoire, Champagne-Poirier, Olivier, Carignan, Marie-Eve, David, Marc D., Pignard-Cheynel, Nathalie, Salerno, Sébastien, Généreux, Mélissa

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.

2020-11-30, Pignard-Cheynel, Nathalie, Salerno, Sébastien, Carlino, Vincent

● La crise sanitaire a engendré des pratiques d’information intenses, les médias d’information étant plébiscités comme première source d’information sur le Covid-19 en avril 2020, consultés souvent ou très souvent par plus de 9 répondants sur 10, devant les autorités publiques et les instances de santé publique. ● Les jeunes (15-25 ans) recourent moins aux médias d’information que leurs aînés mais davantage à leurs proches. Ils utilisent également fréquemment les plateformes numériques (notamment les moteurs de recherche, WhatsApp, YouTube et Instagram). ● La confiance dans les sources officielles et institutionnelles à propos de l’information sur le Covid-19 est élevée : environ 9 répondants sur 10 font confiance aux experts professionnels de santé ainsi qu’aux instances de santé publique, et 8 sur 10 aux autorités politiques. ● Les journalistes et médias apparaissent comme une source fiable d’information pour plus de la moitié des répondants. Ils sont toutefois près d’un tiers (et plus de la moitié des 15-25 ans) à estimer que les journalistes et médias sont susceptibles de diffuser des informations fausses ou inventées sur le Covid-19. ● La couverture médiatique de la crise sanitaire est favorablement évaluée par les répondants : plus de 8 sur 10 estiment que les médias d’information ont expliqué comment agir face à la crise du Covid-19 et qu’ils ont aidé à la comprendre. ● La confiance dans les canaux numériques pour l’information sur le Covid-19 est plus élevée chez les plus jeunes (15-25 ans) : plus de la moitié fait confiance aux moteurs de recherche dans l’accès à l’information. Les plateformes de vidéos en ligne sont également jugées plus fiables par eux que par leurs aînés. ● La discussion sur les réseaux sociaux apparaît comme une activité fréquente, que ce soit avec des amis et collègues ou la famille pour près de la moitié des répondants et près des trois-quarts des 15-25 ans. Dans ces discussions, les jeunes se confrontent davantage que leurs aînés à des opinions différentes des leurs, le rapport à l’information se jouant dans l’interaction entre diverses communautés d’opinion. ● Près des deux-tiers des répondants déclarent avoir reçu des fake news à propos du Covid-19 sur une messagerie instantanée. Une proportion encore plus forte chez les 15-25 ans (plus des trois-quarts des répondants). ● Dans les réactions à la réception de fake news, les jeunes se révèlent plus actifs, notamment pour avertir les personnes qui les ont partagées. Ils sont aussi plus enclins à les ignorer. ● La propension des journalistes et médias à limiter la diffusion de fausses informations relatives au Covid-19 est reconnue par plus de la moitié des répondants (moins de 40% des 15-25 ans) qui plébiscitent par ailleurs, pour près des trois-quarts d’entre eux, le fact-checking comme moyen le plus efficace pour lutter contre les fake news. ● Plus d’un tiers des répondants doutent que le Covid-19 est d’origine naturelle, une proportion moins élevée chez les 15-25 ans que chez les plus de 25 ans. De façon générale, les jeunes rejettent davantage les théories conspirationnistes sur le Covid-19 que les plus de 25 ans.