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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
Auteur(s)
Coninck, David D.
Frissen, Thomas
Matthijs, Koen
d’Haenens, Leen
Lits, Grégoire
Champagne-Poirier, Olivier
Carignan, Marie-Eve
David, Marc D.
Salerno, Sébastien
Généreux, Mélissa
Date de parution
2021-5-3
In
Frontiers in Psychology
No
12
De la page
1340
A la page
1353
Revu par les pairs
1
Résumé
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.
Identifiants
Autre version
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.646394/full
Type de publication
journal article
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