Trust in crisis

Conspiracy mentality, lack of trust and religiosity predicted conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 in a Norwegian sample

Authors

• Asbjørn Dyrendal Norwegian University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7746-3706
• Knut Hestad Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6876-9076

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30664/ar.107485

Keywords:

Covid-19, Social trust, Conspirecy beliefs, Conspiracy mentality, Meaningfulness, COVID-stress, Meaning

Abstract

Crises are associated with a search for meaning and security. In recent years, they have also been associated with increased attention to conspiracy theories. Such theories about COVID-19 have been many. We have looked at several COVID-specific conspiracy theories and their relation to a number of other factors, including religiosity in a highly educated Norwegian convenience sample (n=1225). Conspiracy mentality, lack of trust, and religiosity were directly associated with conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19, whereas self-reported stress and negative emotions related to the pandemic had only small, indirect effects. Unlike previous research findings, we found no effect of gender or age.