Validation of the COVID-19 Disbelief Scale: Conditional indirect effects of religiosity and COVID-19 fear on intent to vaccinate

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic uprooted economies, infected millions, and altered behaviors. Yet, the invisible nature of the disease, paralleled symptoms to the common flu, and misinformation generated COVID-19 disbelief. Many believed COVID-19 was a hoax. Many believed case numbers were fabricated. Others claimed it was a ruse for sociopolitical reasons. The construction of the 8-item COVID-19 Disbelief Scale (CDS) measures the false belief COVID-19 was not real and life-threatening. The CDS demonstrated discriminant validity and robust reliability across two studies. Predictive analysis evinced COVID-19 disbelievers feared COVID-19 less and had lower intent to get vaccinated. In the U.S., certain religious organizations spread misinformation. Religiosity associated with greater COVID-19 disbelief. Among disbelievers, conditional indirect effects of religiosity associated with greater COVID-19 fear and higher intent to get vaccinated. The moderated mediation model validated utility of the CDS as a concise instrument to study variable relationships.

A Qualitative Investigation of the Impact of COVID-19 on United States’ Frontline Health Care Workers and the Perceived Impact on Their Family Members

“…Though international research has not extensively focused on the prevalence of COVID disbelief and skepticism, a high proportion of Americans continue to espouse attitudes consistent with COVID disbelief and disinformation [ 35 , 36 ]. Exploration of the short- and long-term impact of health care workers’ interactions with “skeptical” family and the community at large using validated tools such as the COVID-19 Disbelief Scale [ 37 ] may yield insights into the breadth and depth of familial disruptions stemming from the disbelief and lack of responsiveness to public health imperatives.…”

Differential mortality with COVID-19 and invasive mechanical ventilation between high-income and low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression

“…We also argue that this finding could have resulted from delayed decision making by the LMIC governments for timely action and handling of the disease and from the sense of disbelief and denial about COVID-19 among the people during the early days of the pandemic. A factor behind this mistrust appears to be that religious organizations in various countries spread misinformation [19]. This is particularly remarkable because no individual study has reported this finding, and it was only divulged on pooling the results.…”

When Believing in Divine Immanence Explains Vaccine Hesitancy: A Matter of Conspiracy Beliefs?

“…The relationship between religiosity and vaccine hesitancy is all but trivial. Some studies carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic have shown a positive relationship (Bok et al, 2021;Olagoke et al, 2021). However, religiosity has been measured in various ways, and we can assume that its effects may differ depending on the aspects considered.…”

“…There is some evidence that attending religious services is positively associated with vaccine hesitancy in the US (Barnack et al, 2010;Constantine & Jerman, 2007). Recent studies also report a negative relationship between religiosity and Covid-19 vaccination intention (Bok et al, 2021;Olagoke et al, 2021). Nonetheless, in some countries, no relationship between individual religiosity and vaccine hesitancy has emerged (e.g., for the Italian context see Engin & Vezzoni, 2020).…”