COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, health behaviors, and policy support

Valerie A Earnshaw; Lisa A Eaton; Seth C Kalichman; Natalie M Brousseau; E Carly Hill; Annie B Fox

doi:10.1093/tbm/ibaa090

COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, health behaviors, and policy support

Transl Behav Med. 2020 Oct 8;10(4):850-856. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibaa090.

Authors

Valerie A Earnshaw¹, Lisa A Eaton², Seth C Kalichman³, Natalie M Brousseau¹, E Carly Hill¹, Annie B Fox⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
² Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
³ Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
⁴ Center for Interprofessional Studies and Innovation, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA.

Abstract

Conspiracy theories have been proliferating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence suggests that belief in conspiracy theories undermines engagement in pro-health behaviors and support for public health policies. Moreover, previous work suggests that inoculating messages from opinion leaders that expose conspiracy theories as false before people are exposed to them can help to prevent belief in new conspiracies. Goals of this study were to: (a) explore associations between COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs with SARS-CoV-2 vaccine intentions, cooperation with public health recommendations, and support for public health policies among U.S. adults and (b) investigate trusted sources of COVID-19 information to inform strategies to address conspiracy beliefs. A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted with 845 U.S. adults in April 2020. Data were analyzed using analyses of variance and multivariable regressions. One-third (33%) of participants believed one or more conspiracies about COVID-19. Participants who believed conspiracies reported that their intentions to vaccinate were 3.9 times lower and indicated less support for COVID-19 public health policies than participants who disbelieved conspiracies. There were no differences in cooperation with public health recommendations by conspiracy belief endorsement in the multivariable regression analysis. Although there were some key differences in trusted sources of COVID-19 information, doctor(s) were the most trusted source of information about COVID-19 overall with 90% of participants trusting doctor(s). Doctor(s) may play a role in addressing COVID-19 conspiracy theories before people are exposed to them to promote COVID-19 prevention efforts.

Keywords: COVID-19; Conspiracy beliefs; Pandemic; USA; Vaccination.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Betacoronavirus
COVID-19
Cooperative Behavior*
Coronavirus Infections* / epidemiology
Coronavirus Infections* / prevention & control
Coronavirus Infections* / psychology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Culture
Female
Health Behavior*
Humans
Intention
Male
Pandemics* / prevention & control
Physician's Role
Pneumonia, Viral* / epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral* / prevention & control
Pneumonia, Viral* / psychology
Psychology
Public Health Practice
Public Policy / trends*
SARS-CoV-2
Trust / psychology*
United States / epidemiology
Vaccination / psychology*