Irrational Beliefs about COVID-19: A Scoping Review

Federica Maria Magarini, Margherita Pinelli, Arianna Sinisi, Silvia Ferrari, Giovanna Laura De Fazio and Gian Maria Galeazzi
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Federica Maria Magarini: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, School of Specialization in Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
Margherita Pinelli: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, School of Specialization in Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
Arianna Sinisi: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, School of Specialization in Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
Silvia Ferrari: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, School of Specialization in Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
Giovanna Laura De Fazio: Department of Law, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
Gian Maria Galeazzi: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, School of Specialization in Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-21

Abstract: Since the emergence of the recent Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) and its spread as a pandemic, there has been a parallel spread of false and misleading information, known as an infodemic. The COVID-19 infodemic has induced distrust in scientific communities, governments, institutions and the population, and a confidence crisis that has led to harmful health behaviours, also impacting on mental health. The aim of this study is to provide a scoping review of the scientific literature about COVID-19-related misinformation and conspiracy theories, focusing on the construction of a conceptual framework which is useful for the interpretation of the conspiracy theory phenomenon surrounding COVID-19, and its consequences. Particular socio-environmental conditions (i.e., low educational level, younger age), psychological processes and attitudes (such as low levels of epistemic trust, the avoidance of uncertainty, extraversion, collective narcissism, and a conspiracy-prone mindset), and contextual factors (e.g., high levels of self-perceived risk and anxiety) seem to underpin the adherence to beliefs that are not solely the domain of paranoids and extremists but a widespread phenomenon that has caused important health, social and political consequences.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; infodemic; misinformation; conspiracy theories; public health; mental health; social and public trust (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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