Depression, reduced education, and bias perceptions as risk factors of beliefs in misinformation.

ABSTRACT: The spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 has represented one of the several undesirable effects of the current pandemic. In understanding why people can be more or less at risk to believe in misinformation, emotional distress and education could play a crucial role. The present study aims to analyze the relationship among depressive symptoms, education, and beliefs in misinformation about COVID-19 during the early phase of the pandemic. We do this through a cross-sectional study carried out on a random and representative sample of the Italian population that allows us to go and verify the co-evolution of many factors: i.e., beliefs in misinformation, symptoms of depression, perceptions about COVID-19, ways in which citizens got informed about the pandemic, a

SUBMITTER: Delmastro M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9524309 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature