Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-8671
Authors: | Hettich, Nora Beutel, Manfred E. Ernst, Mareike Schliessler, Clara Kampling, Hanna Kruse, Johannes Brähler, Elmar |
Title: | Conspiracy endorsement and its associations with personality functioning, anxiety, loneliness, and sociodemographic characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic in a representative sample of the German population |
Online publication date: | 13-Feb-2023 |
Year of first publication: | 2022 |
Language: | english |
Abstract: | Background In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals have been found to endorse conspiracy beliefs. Socio-demographic variables, personality functioning, anxiety, and loneliness could be risk factors for this endorsement. Methods In a representative sample of the German population (N = 2,503) measures of conspiracy mentality, conspiracy-related beliefs toward COVID-19, personality functioning (OPD-SQS), anxiety (HADS), and loneliness (UCLA) were assessed. Pearson product-moment correlations and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted. Results Conspiracy mentality and conspiracy-related beliefs toward COVID-19 were strongly correlated. Regression analyses found younger age, male gender, lower education, and lower income to be associated with conspiracy mentality. The subscales relationship model and self-perception of the OPD-SQS were positively related to conspiracy mentality whereas interpersonal contact was negatively associated. Higher levels of anxiety were statistically predictive for conspiracy mentality. Conclusion Our findings indicate a contribution of personality functioning to the understanding of conspiracy mentality and thus to the advancement of interventions during the pandemic. |
DDC: | 610 Medizin 610 Medical sciences |
Institution: | Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz |
Department: | FB 04 Medizin |
Place: | Mainz |
ROR: | https://ror.org/023b0x485 |
DOI: | http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-8671 |
Version: | Published version |
Publication type: | Zeitschriftenaufsatz |
Document type specification: | Scientific article |
License: | CC BY |
Information on rights of use: | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
Journal: | PLOS ONE 17 1 |
Pages or article number: | e0263301 |
Publisher: | PLOS |
Publisher place: | San Francisco, California, US |
Issue date: | 2022 |
ISSN: | 1932-6203 |
Publisher DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0263301 |
Appears in collections: | DFG-491381577-G |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | ||
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conspiracy_endorsement_and_it-20230126115043924.pdf | 520.47 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |