Belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and a tendency to conspiracy thinking as factors that may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression among Polish citizens
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has become the subject of intense discussion on social media platforms. Fake news and conspiracy theories about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in particular its origin, spread, impact on health and prevention, have become especially popular. The social crisis triggered by...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2022-06-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002334/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797617234092228608 |
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| author | P. Dębski M. Piegza N. Kapuśniak A. Boroń M. Dębska P. Gorczyca |
| author_facet | P. Dębski M. Piegza N. Kapuśniak A. Boroń M. Dębska P. Gorczyca |
| author_sort | P. Dębski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has become the subject of intense discussion on social media platforms. Fake news and conspiracy theories about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in particular its origin, spread, impact on health and prevention, have become especially popular. The social crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a growing tendency to believe in conspiracy theories, which in turn may contribute to an increase in anxiety tension and thus deteriorate the psychological health of citizens.
Objectives
The aim of the study was to determine the relationships between the tendency to believe in false information about the COVID-19 pandemic and the severity of symptoms of anxiety and depression among the surveyed Polish citizens.
Methods
The study included 700 Polish people aged 24.7±6.34 years. We used questionnaires such as: COVID-19 Conspiratorial Beliefs Scale to measure the level of belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale to measure tendencies to believe in conspiracy theories, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
Results
Belief in false information about the COVID-19 pandemic may be associated with a slight increase in the severity of both anxiety symptoms (b=0.044; p=0.021) and depression (b=0.048; p=0.004). A factor known as belief in the criminal activity of government organizations may also contribute to predicting the increase in the severity of symptoms of anxiety (b=0.172; p=0.001) and depression (b=0.169; p=0.000) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusions
Belief in false information about the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as belief in general conspiracy theories, can contribute to the psychological deterioration of citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:52:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d78b8fa71eba4bf48e614bd622365cae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:52:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-d78b8fa71eba4bf48e614bd622365cae2023-11-17T05:06:30ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S75S7510.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.233Belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and a tendency to conspiracy thinking as factors that may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression among Polish citizensP. Dębski0M. Piegza1N. Kapuśniak2A. Boroń3M. Dębska4P. Gorczyca5Medical University of Silesia, Department Of Psychiatry, Tarnowskie Gory, PolandMedical University of Silesia, Department Of Psychiatry, Tarnowskie Gory, PolandMedical University of Silesia, Department Of Psychiatry, Tarnowskie Gory, PolandMedical University of Silesia, Department Of Psychiatry, Tarnowskie Gory, PolandThe Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Institute Of Sport Sciences, Katowice, PolandMedical University of Silesia, Department Of Psychiatry, Tarnowskie Gory, Poland Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has become the subject of intense discussion on social media platforms. Fake news and conspiracy theories about the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in particular its origin, spread, impact on health and prevention, have become especially popular. The social crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a growing tendency to believe in conspiracy theories, which in turn may contribute to an increase in anxiety tension and thus deteriorate the psychological health of citizens. Objectives The aim of the study was to determine the relationships between the tendency to believe in false information about the COVID-19 pandemic and the severity of symptoms of anxiety and depression among the surveyed Polish citizens. Methods The study included 700 Polish people aged 24.7±6.34 years. We used questionnaires such as: COVID-19 Conspiratorial Beliefs Scale to measure the level of belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale to measure tendencies to believe in conspiracy theories, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results Belief in false information about the COVID-19 pandemic may be associated with a slight increase in the severity of both anxiety symptoms (b=0.044; p=0.021) and depression (b=0.048; p=0.004). A factor known as belief in the criminal activity of government organizations may also contribute to predicting the increase in the severity of symptoms of anxiety (b=0.172; p=0.001) and depression (b=0.169; p=0.000) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions Belief in false information about the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as belief in general conspiracy theories, can contribute to the psychological deterioration of citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002334/type/journal_articleCovid-19conspiracy thinkingDepressionAnxiety |
| spellingShingle | P. Dębski M. Piegza N. Kapuśniak A. Boroń M. Dębska P. Gorczyca Belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and a tendency to conspiracy thinking as factors that may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression among Polish citizens European Psychiatry Covid-19 conspiracy thinking Depression Anxiety |
| title | Belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and a tendency to conspiracy thinking as factors that may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression among Polish citizens |
| title_full | Belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and a tendency to conspiracy thinking as factors that may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression among Polish citizens |
| title_fullStr | Belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and a tendency to conspiracy thinking as factors that may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression among Polish citizens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and a tendency to conspiracy thinking as factors that may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression among Polish citizens |
| title_short | Belief in false information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and a tendency to conspiracy thinking as factors that may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression among Polish citizens |
| title_sort | belief in false information regarding the covid 19 pandemic and a tendency to conspiracy thinking as factors that may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression among polish citizens |
| topic | Covid-19 conspiracy thinking Depression Anxiety |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822002334/type/journal_article |
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