COVID-19 conspiracy theories and compliance with governmental restrictions: The mediating roles of anger, anxiety, and hope

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an ideal breeding ground for conspiracy theories. Yet, different beliefs could have different implications for individuals’ emotional responses, which in turn could relate to different behaviours and specifically to either a greater or lesser compliance with social distancing and health-protective measures. In the present research, we investigated the links between COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, emotions (anger, anxiety, and hope), attitudes towards government restrictions, and self-reported compliant behaviour. Results of a cross-sectional survey amongst a large UK sample ( N = 1,579) provided support for the hypothesis that COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs showed a polarizing relationship with compliant behaviour through opposing emotional pathways. The relation was mediated by higher levels of anger, themselves related to a lesser perceived importance of government restrictions, and simultaneous higher levels of anxiety, related to a greater perceived importance. Hope was also related to conspiracy beliefs and to greater perceived importance but played a weaker role in the mediational model. Results suggest that the behavioural correlates of conspiracy beliefs might not be straightforward, and highlight the importance of considering the emotional states such beliefs might elicit when investigating their potential impact.

Don't believe it! A global perspective on cognitive reflection and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 pandemic

“… 3 Despite the evidence suggesting negative correlation between belief in conspiracy theory and support and/or compliance with governmental rule in the context of COVID-19 prevention, a few studies found different results. For example, Peitz et al, 2021 , conducting a study on a UK sample found that the relationship is not straightforward. The effect of believing in a conspiracy theory, depends on the emotion it evokes (e.g., while anger led to higher perceived importance of governmental restrictions, anxiety achieved just the opposite).…”

Issues of ethics in research: Analysis of conspiracy theories surrounding covid-19 pandemic on social media

“…Accordingly, believing in conspiracy theories around COVID-19 is perceived to undermine institutional trust, governmental regulations support and its adoption, and social engagement, like helping members of risk groups (Pummerer et al, 2021). It has been seen to lower social distancing compliance and other measures of health protection, including vaccination and putting on masks (Peitz et al, 2021). Accepting conspiracy narratives can lead to the dismissal of credible scientific information by people as it minimises the perceived importance of engaging in collectively beneficial behaviours (Lewandowsky et al, 2013).…”

Conspiracy Theories about Infectious Diseases: An Introduction

“…Importantly, their findings suggest that active rejection of conspiracy theories and theorists may be a useful alternative to conceptualizing and examining the impact of conspiracy theories. Peitz et al (2021) examined the links between conspiracy beliefs and attitudes toward mandatory COVID-19 policies with self-reported compliance regarding social distancing and health-protection measures. In particular, they posited that COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs would relate to people's response to mandatory COVID-19 policies through differential emotional pathways.…”