Abstract
Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been growing concerns about conspiracy theories across the globe. Especially in the United States, conspiratorial narratives have been promoted by political figures and moved to public discourse from the fringe, shaping public opinion and hampering preventive measures. This study examines a host of political and communicative factors that might contribute to Americans’ belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories and how such belief is associated with attitudes toward mask-wearing. Findings from a U.S. national two-wave panel survey showed that support for Donald Trump was the strongest predictor of conspiracy beliefs. Populism, trust in scientific institutions, conservative media use, and social media use predicted such beliefs as well. We also found a negative relationship between conspiracy beliefs and mask-wearing attitudes, suggesting that conspiracy beliefs might threaten public health by hindering preventive behavior. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
