CONSPIRACY BELIEFS ABOUT GROUPS BENEFITTING FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC MODERATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FEAR OF COVID-19 AND SUBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFICACY OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• Authors: Nowakowska Iwona , Zarazińska Anna
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Drawing on the protective motivation theory and parallel response model, in this cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study (N = 212) carried out on a sample of the general public (age 18-65), we aimed to test the potential interaction effects of fear of COVID-19 and conspiracy beliefs about groups benefitting from the COVID-19 pandemic in predicting subjective assessment of the efficacy of three COVID-19 preventive measures. The results have shown that fear of COVID-19 was positively related to a positive assessment of the efficacy of frequent disinfection of hands and surfaces, but only in people who had COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs on an average or high level. However, on all levels of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, fear of COVID-19 related positively to a positive assessment of mask wearing and social distancing efficacy, however, to a different extent. We discuss the results in light of the protective motivation theory and the affiliation function of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and conforming to the prevention guidelines.

Keywords

EN

CONSPIRACY BELIEFS; COVID-19; MASK WEARING; PROTECTION MOTIVATION THEORY; SOCIAL DISTANCING; VACCINATIONS

• Publisher: Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Studia Psychologica
• Year: 2023
• Volume: 65
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 178-195

Contributors

author

Nowakowska Iwona

• Maria Grzegorzewska University, Institute of Psychology, Szczęśliwicka 40, 02-353 Warsaw, Poland

• https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7701-5612

author

Zarazińska Anna

• https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2709-9365

Identifiers

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31577/sp.2023.02.874