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Just a Flu? Self-perceived infection mediates the link between conspiracy beliefs and Covid-19 health beliefs and behaviors.

ABSTRACT: The Covid-19 pandemic has inspired many conspiracy theories, which are associated with detrimental health beliefs and behaviors (e.g. reduced physical distancing; decreased vaccination intentions). We propose a previously unrecognized mediator of these relationships: A self-perceived likelihood to already have experienced a Covid-19 infection. Results from a large sample (N = 9033) revealed that self-perceived infections mediated the link between conspiracy beliefs and health beliefs and behaviors. These findings emerged independently of institutional distrust, and actual infections as indicated by a positive medical test. These findings suggest that conspiracy beliefs shape people's interpretation of the physical signals of their own body.

SUBMITTER: van Prooijen JW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9036149 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Just a Flu? Self-perceived infection mediates the link between conspiracy beliefs and Covid-19 health beliefs and behaviors.

van Prooijen Jan-Willem JW Etienne Tom W TW Kutiyski Yordan Y Krouwel André Pm AP

Journal of health psychology 20211020 6

The Covid-19 pandemic has inspired many conspiracy theories, which are associated with detrimental health beliefs and behaviors (e.g. reduced physical distancing; decreased vaccination intentions). We propose a previously unrecognized mediator of these relationships: A self-perceived likelihood to already have experienced a Covid-19 infection. Results from a large sample (<i>N</i> = 9033) revealed that self-perceived infections mediated the link between conspiracy beliefs and health beliefs and ...[more]

PMID: 34670439

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| S-EPMC8754330 | biostudies-literature

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