Misbehaving in the Corona Crisis: The Role of Anxiety and Unfounded Beliefs

Erceg, Nikola; Ružojčić, Mitja; Galić, Zvonimir

doi:10.31234/osf.io/cgjw8

Cited by 33 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…All focus on the relationship between false beliefs and behaviors (or intentions to undertake behaviors). While some studies find associations between belief in misinformation and reduced self-protective behaviors (Allington et al, 2020;Banai et al, 2020;Bertin et al, 2020;Bierwiaczonek et al, 2020;Erceg et al, 2020;Sternisko et al, 2020;Swami & Barron, 2020;Teovanovic et al, 2020), others find no evidence of associations (Alper et al, 2020;Díaz & Cova, 2020). Still others find associations for some behaviors but not others (Imhoff & Lamberty, 2020;Pummerer & Sassenberg, 2020).…”

Section: Past Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A set of ten items was used to measure the extent to which participants agreed with misinformation about COVID-19. We compiled misinformation from a variety of sources, including fact-checking organizations (WHO Myth Busters), databases (Poytner's International Fact-Checking Network; Wikipedia's page on "Misinformation Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic"), and articles (Brennen et al, 2020;Erceg et al, 2020;Pennycook et al, 2020;Sharma et al, 2020). We focused on eight misinformation items while developing our scale due to their prominence in the media (Brennen et al, 2020) and because they formed a single dimension in the PCA.…”

Section: Misinformation Belief Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

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Association of COVID-19 Misinformation with Face Mask Wearing and Social Distancing in a Nationally Representative US Sample

Hornik¹,

Kikut²,

Jesch³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Wide-spread misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges for communicating public health recommendations. Should campaigns to promote protective behaviors focus on debunking misinformation or targeting behavior-specific beliefs? To address this question, we examine whether belief in COVID-19 misinformation is directly associated with two behaviors (face mask wearing and social distancing), and whether behavior-specific beliefs can account for this association and better predict behavior, consistent with behavior-change theory. We conducted a nationally representative two-wave survey of U.S. adults from 5/26/20-6/12/20 (n=1074) and 7/15/20-7/21//20 (n=889; follow up response 83%). Scales were developed and validated for COVID-19 related misinformation beliefs, social distancing and face mask wearing, and beliefs about the consequences of both behaviors. Cross-lagged panel linear regression models assessed relationships among the variables. While belief in misinformation was negatively associated with both face mask wearing (B= -.27, SE=.06) and social distancing behaviors (B= -.46, SE=.08) measured at the same time, misinformation did not predict concurrent or lagged behavior when the behavior-specific beliefs were incorporated in the models. Beliefs about behavioral outcomes accounted for face mask wearing and social distancing, both cross-sectionally (B= .43, SE=.05; B= .63, SE=.09) and lagged over time (B= .20, SE=04; B= .30, SE=.08). In conclusion, belief in COVID-19-related misinformation is less relevant to protective behaviors, but beliefs about the consequences of these behaviors are important predictors. With regard to misinformation, we recommend health campaigns aimed at promoting protective behaviors emphasize the benefits of these behaviors, rather than debunking unrelated false claims

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Section: Past Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Misinformation Belief Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

Association of COVID-19 Misinformation with Face Mask Wearing and Social Distancing in a Nationally Representative US Sample

Hornik¹,

Kikut²,

Jesch³

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Misinformation and conspiratorial narratives about COVID-19 can distort knowledge about the scientific evidence and risk assessment and undermine compliance with containment measures (Erceg et al, 2020;Imhoff & Lamberty, 2020;Swami & Barron, 2020;Teovanovic et al, 2020). People who are generally skeptical towards scientific evidence, are also more likely to believe in misinformation (Cavojova et al, 2020;Uscinski et al, 2020) and less inclined to be compliant with lockdown laws (Brzezinski et al, 2020).…”

Section: Conspiratorial Thinking About Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological underpinnings of pandemic denial - patterns of disagreement with scientific experts in the German public during the COVID-19 pandemic

Rothmund¹,

Ziemer²

2020

Preprint

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We investigated laypersons’ agreement with technical claims about the spread of the Sars-CoV-2 virus and with claims about the risk from COVID-19 in the general public in Germany (N = 1,575) and compared these with the evaluations of scientific experts (N = 128). Using Latent Class Analysis, we distinguished four segments in the general public. Two groups (mainstream and cautious, 73%) are generally consistent with scientific experts in their evaluations. Two groups (doubters and deniers, 27%) differ distinctively from expert evaluations and tend to believe in conspiracies about COVID-19. Deniers (8%) are characterized by low risk assessments, anti-elitist sentiments and low compliance with containment measures. Doubters (19%) are characterized by general uncertainty in the distinction between true and false claims and by low scientific literacy in terms of cognitive ability and style. Our research indicates that conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 cannot be linked to a single and distinct motivational structure.

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“…A higher percentage was worried because of social isolation (38.94%), and not being able to work (27.88%). Drawing from another studies we notice that people report higher rates of anxiety due to concern for themselves and their family (42). The distinctive distribution of work and responsibilities across Peruvian families seems to be driving varied behavioral responses (somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression) supported by the last national report.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Self-Reported Psychological Problems and Coping Strategies: A Web-Based Study in Peruvian Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Guerrero

Parra

Cahua

et al. 2020

Preprint

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BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted health systems across the world and led to major shifts in individual behavior by forcing people into isolation in home settings. Its rapid spread has overwhelmed populations in all corners of Latin-American countries resulting in individual psychological reactions that may aggravate the health crisis. OBJECTIVE: this study reports on demographics, self-reported psychological morbidities and associated coping styles during the COVID-19 pandemic for the Peruvian population. Methods: This cross-sectional study uses an online survey with snowball sampling that was conducted after the state of emergency was declared in Perú (on April 2nd). The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ -28) was used to identify somatic symptoms, incidence of anxiety/ insomnia, social dysfunction and depression and the Coping Strategy Questionnaire (COPE-28) mapped personal strategies to address recent stress. RESULTS: 434 self-selected participants ranging in age from 18 to 68 years old (ME =33.87) completed the survey. The majority of participants were women (61.3%), aged between 18 and 28 (41.7%), well-educated (>=85.0 %), Peruvian (94.2%), employed (57.4%) and single (71.20 %). 40.8% reported psychological problems, expressing fear of coronavirus infection (71.43%). Regression analysis shows that women developed more somatic symptoms (p<0.001*, C.I: -2.75 to -.99) and greater anxiety/insomnia (p=0.00*, C.I: -2.98 to 0.84) than men. Depression and social dysfunction were equally likely at any age. Educational status was protective against developing psychological disorders (p<0.05). While active responses (acceptance and social support) are scarcely used by individuals with psychological problems; passive strategies (such as denial, self-distraction, self-blame, disconnection, and emotional discharge) are more commonly reported.CONCLUSION: This study provides a better understanding of psychological disorders occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Peruvian population. About half of the respondents reported psychological morbidity and poor coping responses. This evidence informs the need for broader promotional health policies focused on strengthening individual’s active strategies to improve mental health, especially in underprivileged groups during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Misbehaving in the Corona Crisis: The Role of Anxiety and Unfounded Beliefs

Cited by 33 publications

References 28 publications

Association of COVID-19 Misinformation with Face Mask Wearing and Social Distancing in a Nationally Representative US Sample

Association of COVID-19 Misinformation with Face Mask Wearing and Social Distancing in a Nationally Representative US Sample

Psychological underpinnings of pandemic denial - patterns of disagreement with scientific experts in the German public during the COVID-19 pandemic

Self-Reported Psychological Problems and Coping Strategies: A Web-Based Study in Peruvian Population During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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