Adam Enders|Joseph E. Uscinski|Casey Klofstad|Justin Stoler
On the relationship between conspiracy theory beliefs, misinformation, and vaccine hesitancy
University of Louisville|University of Miami|University of Miami|University of Miami
time writing nearly one hundred published studies demonstrate beliefs covid19 conspiracy theories misinformation negatively associated covid19 preventive behaviors correlational findings often interpreted evidence beliefs conspiracy theories misinformation exogenous factors shape human behavior forgoing vaccination interpretation motivated researchers develop methods prebunking debunking otherwise limiting spread conspiracy theories misinformation online however robust literatures conspiracy theory beliefs health behaviors media effects lead us question whether beliefs conspiracy theories misinformation treated exogenous vaccine hesitancy refusal employing us survey data n 2065 july 2021 show beliefs covid19 conspiracy theories misinformation related covid19 vaccine hesitancy refusal also strongly associated psychological social political motivations theorized drive covid19 vaccine hesitancy refusal findings suggest beliefs conspiracy theories misinformation might always exogenous cause rather manifestation factors lead vaccine hesitancy refusal conclude encouraging researchers carefully consider modeling choices imploring practitioners refocus worldviews personality traits political orientations underlie healthrelated behaviors beliefs conspiracy theories misinformation