Jon Agley|Yunyu Xiao
Misinformation about COVID-19: evidence for differential latent profiles and a strong association with trust in science
Indiana University Bloomington|Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
abstract background global spread coronavirus disease 2019 covid19 mirrored diffusion misinformation conspiracy theories origins 5g cellular networks motivations preventive measures like vaccination social distancing face masks example political ploy beliefs resulted substantive negative realworld outcomes remain largely unstudied methods crosssectional online survey n 660 participants asked believability five selected covid19 narratives political orientation religious commitment trust science 21item scale along sociodemographic items data assessed descriptively latent profile analysis used identify subgroups similar believability profiles bivariate anova analyses run multivariable multivariate logistic regression used identify factors associated membership specific covid19 narrative believability profiles results full sample believability narratives varied low 194 sd172 5g narrative high 556 sd164 zoonotic scientific consensus narrative four distinct belief profiles emerged preponderance 70 sample falling profile 1 believed scientifically accepted narrative zoonotic origin misinformed conspiratorial narratives profiles disbelieve zoonotic explanation rather believed additional misinformation varying degrees controlling sociodemographics political orientation religious commitment marginally typically nonsignificantly associated covid19 belief profile membership however trust science strong significant predictor profile membership lower trust substantively associated belonging profiles 2 4 conclusions belief misinformation conspiratorial narratives may mutually exclusive belief narrative reflecting scientific consensus profiles distinguished belief zoonotic narrative rather concomitant belief disbelief additional narratives additional renewed dissemination scientifically accepted narratives may attenuate belief misinformation however prophylaxis covid19 misinformation might achieved taking concrete steps improve trust science scientists building understanding scientific process supporting open science initiatives