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Gollust SE, Gansen C, Fowler EF, Moore ST, Nagler RH. Polarized Perspectives on Health Equity: Results from a Nationally Representative Survey on US Public Perceptions of COVID-19 Disparities in 2023. JOURNAL OF HEALTH POLITICS, POLICY AND LAW 2024; 49:403-427. [PMID: 37987174 DOI: 10.1215/03616878-11066304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Republicans and Democrats responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in starkly different ways, from their attitudes in 2020 about whether the virus posed a threat to whether the pandemic ended in 2023. The consequences of COVID-19 for health equity have been a central concern in public health, and the concept of health equity has also been beset by partisan polarization. In this article, the authors present and discuss nationally representative survey data from 2023 on US public perceptions of disparities in COVID-19 mortality (building on a previous multiwave survey effort) as well as causal attributions for racial disparities, the contribution of structural racism, and broader attitudes about public health authority. The authors find anticipated gulfs in perspectives between Democrats on the one hand and independents and Republicans on the other. The results offer a somewhat pessimistic view of the likelihood of finding common ground in how the general public understands health inequities or the role of structural racism in perpetuating them. However, the authors show that those who acknowledge racial disparities in COVID-19 are more likely to support state public health authority to act in response to other infectious disease threats. The authors explore the implications of these public opinion data for advocacy, communication, and future needed research.
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Lieberthal B, Jackson S, de Urioste-Stone S. Risk perceptions and behaviors concerning rural tourism and economic-political drivers of COVID-19 policy in 2020. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299841. [PMID: 38593149 PMCID: PMC11003693 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
When COVID-19 was first introduced to the United States, state and local governments enacted a variety of policies intended to mitigate the virulence of the epidemic. At the time, the most effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 included stay-at-home orders, closing of nonessential businesses, and mask mandates. Although it was well known that regions with high population density and cold climates were at the highest risk for disease spread, rural counties that are economically reliant on tourism were incentivized to enact fewer precautions against COVID-19. The uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the multiple policies to reduce transmission, and the changes in outdoor recreation behavior had a significant impact on rural tourism destinations and management of protected spaces. We utilize fine-scale incidence and demographic data to study the relationship between local economic and political concerns, COVID-19 mitigation measures, and the subsequent severity of outbreaks throughout the continental United States. We also present results from an online survey that measured travel behavior, health risk perceptions, knowledge and experience with COVID-19, and evaluation of destination attributes by 407 out-of-state visitors who traveled to Maine from 2020 to 2021. We synthesize this research to present a narrative on how perceptions of COVID-19 risk and public perceptions of rural tourism put certain communities at greater risk of illness throughout 2020. This research could inform future rural destination management and public health policies to help reduce negative socioeconomic, health and environmental impacts of pandemic-derived changes in travel and outdoor recreation behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Lieberthal
- College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States of America
| | - Sarah Jackson
- College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States of America
| | - Sandra de Urioste-Stone
- College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States of America
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Kendeou P, Johnson V. The nature of misinformation in education. Curr Opin Psychol 2024; 55:101734. [PMID: 38029642 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
In this opinion piece, we review and characterize the nature of misinformation in education and discuss the implications for corrective efforts. In education, misinformation manifests at three different levels: the individual, the community, and the system. At the individual level, misinformation manifests as naive beliefs or misconceptions students hold before they receive instruction or because of instruction. At the community level, misinformation manifests as shared flawed views or misconceptions about certain topics often around risk factors and treatments of learning disabilities. At the system level, misinformation manifests as state or district educational policies and practices that have no scientific evidence. Thus, corrective efforts in education must be implemented at all three levels and follow best practices.
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Zhang X, Du L, Huang Y, Luo X, Wang F. COVID-19 information seeking and individuals' protective behaviors: examining the role of information sources and information content. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:316. [PMID: 38287265 PMCID: PMC10823630 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17770-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seeking COVID-19 information promotes individuals to adopt preventive behaviors, including wearing a mask, social distancing, staying away from risky places, and washing hands. This study aims to investigate which information and sources individuals relied on in seeking COVID-19 information and further examine their roles in individuals' adoption of preventive behaviors. METHODS Through a statistical analysis of 1027 valid responses from citizens in different Chinese cities in 2022 to the self-designed items in an online survey, this study identified individuals' preferred information sources and content on COVID-19. Regarding the information sources and content, the study used multiple regression analysis to examine their associations with individuals' preventive behaviors, and further applied fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore their configurations that increase the likelihood of individuals adopting preventive behaviors. RESULTS Individuals preferred information about the newest prevention and control policies, precautions and treatment, and symptoms from the sources of workplace and community, social media, and social live streaming services. Additionally, individuals' preventive behaviors were positively related to the workplace and community (β = 0.202, p <.001), social live streaming services (β = 0.089, p <.01), government department websites (β = 0.079, p <.05), television (β = 0.073, p <.05), and online news media (β = 0.069, p <.05), but were negatively associated with newspapers (β=-0.087, p <.05). Regarding information content, precautions and treatments (β = 0.211, p <.001), the newest prevention and control policies (β = 0.173, p <.001), symptoms (β = 0.152, p <.001), and official rumor-dispelling information (β = 0.082, p <.05) had a positive relationship with individuals' preventive behaviors. In addition, fsQCA results presented eight configurations that promote individuals to adopt preventive behaviors. The total coverage and solution consistency values were 0.869 and 0.987, respectively. Furthermore, COVID-19 information content, the sources of social media and interpersonal sources, and official news media played an essential role in increasing the likelihood of individuals adopting preventive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrated that individuals seek various COVID-19 information from multiple sources. The direct and degree of association of information sources and content with individuals' preventive behaviors vary from source to source and from content to content. Information sources and content could combinatorially promote individuals to adopt preventive behaviors through several configurations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Zhang
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, China
| | - Lin Du
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, China
| | - Yelin Huang
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, China
| | - Xiao Luo
- School of Humanities, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, China
| | - Fenglian Wang
- School of Economics and Management, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, China.
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Pang Z, Ma X. What drives the vaccination intention against COVID-19? Application of EPPM, TAM, and theories of risk assessment. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2180969. [PMID: 36919459 PMCID: PMC10026910 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2180969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are widely used to fight against COVID-19. However, COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy appears as some individuals are concerned with COVID-19 vaccines. This study investigates the vaccination intention against COVID-19 in China with the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and theories of risk information assessment. Results showed that the formation mechanism of vaccination intention could be considered a psychological process, as subjective knowledge was a primary influence on correspondents' weighting of both the potentially positive (usefulness) and negative effects (threat) of vaccination. This unequal consideration then resulted in different levels of fear arousal between subjects. Driven by usefulness/threat perception and fear, people conducted different decision strategies, so-called analytical assessment, and experiential assessment to make vaccination decision. In addition to the direct effects of experiential assessment on vaccination intention, two decision strategies and fear arousal also affected people's vaccination intention through the mediation role of vaccination attitude. For policymakers and stakeholders, this study provides a knowledge base for confidence-building, and emotional guidance concerning against COVID-19 vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjing Pang
- School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinlin Ma
- School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of City and Regional Planning, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Arif A, Turaga RMR. Covid-19 cure perceptions and media use in India. JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION IN HEALTHCARE 2023; 16:358-369. [PMID: 37358535 DOI: 10.1080/17538068.2023.2228041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the early phases of Covid-19, social media platforms became a significant source of misinformation, and India emerged as a global hotspot. Studies show that 'miracle cure' for preventing and treating Covid-19 infection has been a prominent topic of misinformation. This study explores the extent to which beliefs in cure for Covid-19 in three prominent medical traditions popular in India are associated with the exposure to and trust in various sources from which the public access information. METHODS We conducted an online structured questionnaire survey of 500 respondents in August 2020 in four major cities of India. RESULTS Despite the scientific consensus at that time that there was no cure for Covid-19, close to three-quarters of our respondents believe that there was a cure in at least one of the three popular medical traditions in India: Allopathy, Homeopathy, and Ayurveda. We find that exposure to and trust in WhatsApp are associated with false beliefs regarding the existence of a cure for Covid-19 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.014, respectively). While trust in science is associated with correct beliefs (p = 0.025), there is evidence that trust in government information may foster incorrect beliefs (p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS The high trust in scientific research and its potential ability to instill correct beliefs could be exploited to combat Covid-19 misinformation in India. Potential interventions such as awareness campaigns to increase digital media literacy, regulating social media platforms, and voluntary content regulation by social media platforms - might help policymakers tackle Covid-19 related misinformation effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Areiba Arif
- Public Systems Group, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Rama Mohana R Turaga
- Public Systems Group, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
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Yoo W, Hong Y, Oh SH. Communication inequalities in the COVID-19 pandemic: socioeconomic differences and preventive behaviors in the United States and South Korea. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1290. [PMID: 37407976 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16211-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Communication inequalities are important mechanisms linking socioeconomic backgrounds to health outcomes. Guided by the structural influence model of communication, this study examined the intermediate role of health communication in the relationship between education, income, and preventive behavioral intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and South Korea. METHODS The data were collected through two online surveys conducted by two professional research firms in the US (April 1-3, 2020) and South Korea (April 9-16, 2020). To test the mediating role of health communication, as well as the hypothesized relationships in the proposed model, we performed a path analysis using Mplus 6.1. RESULTS In analyzing survey data from 1050 American and 1175 Korean adults, we found that one's socioeconomic positions were associated with their intentions to engage in COVID-19 preventive behaviors through affecting their health communication experiences and then efficacious beliefs. Differences in education and income were associated with willingness to engage in preventive behaviors by constraining health communication among people with low levels of education and income. The findings showed notable differences and some similarities between the US and South Korea. For example, while income was positively associated with health communication in both US and South Korea, education was only significantly related to health communication in US but not in South Korea. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests health communication strategies such as choice of communication channels and messages to promote intention for COVID-19 prevention behaviors in particular consideration of individual differences in socioeconomic positions in countries with different cultural features. Pubic policies and health campaigns can utilize the suggestions to promote efficacy and preventive behavioral intention during early pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woohyun Yoo
- Department of Media and Communication & Institute of Social Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Yangsun Hong
- Department of Communication and Journalism, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
| | - Sang-Hwa Oh
- Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, College of Media, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
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Baeker Bispo JA, Douyon A, Ashad-Bishop K, Balise R, Kobetz EK. How Trust in Cancer Information Has Changed in the Era of COVID-19: Patterns by Race and Ethnicity. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 28:131-143. [PMID: 36927415 PMCID: PMC10132996 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2022.2117439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 emerged during an era of heightened attention to systemic racism and the spread of misinformation. This context may have impacted public trust in health information about chronic diseases like cancer. Here, we examine data from the 2018 and 2020 Health Information National Trends Survey (N = 7,369) to describe how trust in cancer information from government health agencies, doctors, family and friends, charitable organizations, and religious organizations changed after COVID-19 became a pandemic, and whether that change varied by race/ethnicity. Statistical methods included chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression modeling. Overall, the proportion of respondents who reported a high degree of trust in cancer information from doctors increased (73.65% vs. 77.34%, p = .04). Trends for trust in information from government health agencies and family and friends varied significantly by race/ethnicity, with substantial declines observed among non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB) only. The odds of reporting a high degree of trust in cancer information from government health agencies and friends and family decreased by 53% (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.24-0.93) and 73% (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.09-0.82), respectively, among NHB, but were stable for other groups. Future studies should monitor whether recent declines in trust among NHB persist and unfavorably impact participation in preventive care.
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Affiliation(s)
- JA Baeker Bispo
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - A Douyon
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - K Ashad-Bishop
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - R Balise
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - EK Kobetz
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
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Monheim CL, Himmelstein MS. Democrats and independents stigmatize people with COVID-19 greater compared to Republicans. THE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 163:158-173. [PMID: 36416240 DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2022.2144709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Messaging about COVID-19 was different across the political spectrum, which influenced differences in attitudes surrounding COVID-19. This study examined the political affiliation/ideology on COVID-19 stigma (blame, deservingness of help, negative emotionality) and two mediators of this relationship: conspiracy beliefs and anxiety about COVID-19. Participants answered questions about their political affiliation and ideology, attitudes toward people who have contracted COVID-19; and COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and anxiety. Democrats and Independents indirectly stigmatized people with COVID-19 via increased COVID-19 anxiety and fewer COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs relative to Republicans. Politicization can strongly impact stigma, and messaging could be harnessed as a stigma reduction tool.
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“Masks do not work”: COVID-19 misperceptions and theory-driven corrective strategies on Facebook. ONLINE INFORMATION REVIEW 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/oir-11-2021-0600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
PurposeOne of the most prolific areas of misinformation research is examining corrective strategies in messaging. The main purposes of the current study are to examine the effects of (1) partisan media (2) credibility perceptions and emotional reactions and (3) theory driven corrective messages on people's misperceptions about COVID-19 mask wearing behaviors.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a randomized experimental design to test the hypotheses. The data were collected via the survey firm Lucid. The number of participants was 485. The study was conducted using Qualtrics after the research project was exempt by the Institutional Research Board of a large University in the US. The authors conducted an online experiment with four conditions, narrative versus statistics and individual versus collective. The manipulation messages were constructed as screenshots from Facebook.FindingsThe findings of this study show that higher exposure to liberal media was associated with lower misperceptions, whereas higher credibility perceptions of and positive reactions toward the misinformation post and negative emotions toward the correction comment were associated with higher misperceptions. Moreover, the findings showed that participants in the narrative and collective-frame condition had the lowest misperceptions.Originality/valueThe authors tested theory driven misinformation corrective messages to understand the impact of these messages and multiple related variables on misperceptions about COVID-19 mask wearing. This study contributes to the existing misinformation correction literature by investigating the explanatory power of the two well-established media effects theories on misinformation correction messaging and by identifying essential individual characteristics that should be considered when evaluating how misperceptions about the COVID-19 crisis works and gets reduced.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-11-2021-0600
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Su Y, Hong X, Sun C. Red media, blue media, and misperceptions: examining a moderated serial mediation model of partisan media use and COVID-19 misperceptions. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022:1-16. [PMID: 36258890 PMCID: PMC9560876 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03772-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Misinformation and misperceptions about COVID-19 have undermined democratic system. Partisan media are regarded as one of the culprits for facilitating the spread of misinformation. Grounded in the extended communication mediation model, this study analyzes a U.S. survey sample and examines the conditional indirect effects of partisan media use on COVID-19 related misperceptions. Findings show that using conservative and liberal media both have positive effects on misperceptions and message derogation. Conservative media use has a negative impact on perceived response efficacy, whereas liberal media use positively influenced it. Furthermore, the effect of liberal media use on misperceptions became negative when serially mediated by perceived response efficacy and message derogation. Lastly, discussion network heterogeneity was a significant moderator, such that the indirect effects of partisan media use on misperceptions became weaker among those with a more heterogeneous discussion network. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03772-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Su
- School of Journalism & Communication, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Xin Hong
- School of Journalism & Communication, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
| | - Chang Sun
- School of Journalism & Communication, Peking University, 100871 Beijing, China
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Conservative Media Use and COVID-19 Related Behavior: The Moderating Role of Media Literacy Variables. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137572. [PMID: 35805227 PMCID: PMC9265742 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no vaccine to cure or slow its impact due to the novelty of the virus, nor were there were any other standardized measures to handle its spread. Yet, despite the detrimental consequences of the pandemic and its impact on people’s lives, the behavior of individuals to combat the pandemic was not necessarily consistent with official guidelines. To make things worse, the pandemic was highly politicized in countries such as the U.S. With a help of a national survey from the U.S., we examine the associations between media literacy variables and willingness to perform recommended COVID-19 related health behavior. Moreover, we also examine the moderating role of conservative media use in this relationship. Our findings show that conservative media use was negatively associated with these protective behaviors, and that both media literacy variables were positively related with willingness to perform recommended COVID-19 related health behavior. Our results show that media literacy can mitigate some of the impact of conservative media use on individuals. Our findings help understand the complexity of protective behavior against the virus during a highly politicized pandemic.
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Ngai CSB, Singh RG, Lu W, Yao L, Koon AC. Exploring the Relationship Between Trust-Building Strategies and Public Engagement on Social Media During the COVID-19 Outbreak. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2022:1-17. [PMID: 35473490 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2055261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Communication is critical in a new health emergency because it motivates the public to take preventive actions. Prior research has shown that strategies including source credibility, information transparency and uncertainty reduction actions could enhance trust in health communication on social media. Yet research on how the government in China used these trust-building strategies to engage the public during the outbreak of COVID-19 is limited. Therefore, our exploratory study developed an integrated framework for conducting quantitative content analysis to examine how the most popular government-owned newspaper in China, People's Daily, utilized a major social media platform, to engage the public. Our findings showed that accessibility to external links, provision of emotional support, and information on skills and resources were associated with increased public engagement with government COVID-19 posts. Insights gained can enable public health organizations and governments to focus on specific strategies to enhance public engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Sing Bik Ngai
- The Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
| | | | - Wenze Lu
- The Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
| | - Le Yao
- Faculty of Humanities, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
| | - Alex Chun Koon
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
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Stevens H, Palomares NA. Constituents' Inferences of Local Governments' Goals and the Relationship Between Political Party and Belief in COVID-19 Misinformation: Cross-sectional Survey of Twitter Followers of State Public Health Departments. JMIR INFODEMIOLOGY 2022; 2:e29246. [PMID: 37113808 PMCID: PMC10014089 DOI: 10.2196/29246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Background Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, social media have influenced the circulation of health information. Public health agencies often use Twitter to disseminate and amplify the propagation of such information. Still, exposure to local government-endorsed COVID-19 public health information does not make one immune to believing misinformation. Moreover, not all health information on Twitter is accurate, and some users may believe misinformation and disinformation just as much as those who endorse more accurate information. This situation is complicated, given that elected officials may pursue a political agenda of re-election by downplaying the need for COVID-19 restrictions. The politically polarized nature of information and misinformation on social media in the United States has fueled a COVID-19 infodemic. Because pre-existing political beliefs can both facilitate and hinder persuasion, Twitter users' belief in COVID-19 misinformation is likely a function of their goal inferences about their local government agencies' motives for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective We shed light on the cognitive processes of goal understanding that underlie the relationship between partisanship and belief in health misinformation. We investigate how the valence of Twitter users' goal inferences of local governments' COVID-19 efforts predicts their belief in COVID-19 misinformation as a function of their political party affiliation. Methods We conducted a web-based cross-sectional survey of US Twitter users who followed their state's official Department of Public Health Twitter account (n=258) between August 10 and December 23, 2020. Inferences about local governments' goals, demographics, and belief in COVID-19 misinformation were measured. State political affiliation was controlled. Results Participants from all 50 states were included in the sample. An interaction emerged between political party affiliation and goal inference valence for belief in COVID-19 misinformation (∆R 2=0.04; F 8,249=4.78; P<.001); positive goal inference valence predicted increased belief in COVID-19 misinformation among Republicans (β=.47; t 249=2.59; P=.01) but not among Democrats (β=.07; t 249=0.84; P=.40). Conclusions Our results reveal that favorable inferences about local governments' COVID-19 efforts can accelerate belief in misinformation among Republican-identifying constituents. In other words, accurate COVID-19 transmission knowledge is a function of constituents' sentiment toward politicians rather than science, which has significant implications on public health efforts for minimizing the spread of the disease, as convincing misinformed constituents to practice safety measures might be a political issue just as much as it is a health one. Our work suggests that goal understanding processes matter for misinformation about COVID-19 among Republicans. Those responsible for future COVID-19 public health messaging aimed at increasing belief in valid information about COVID-19 should recognize the need to test persuasive appeals that address partisans' pre-existing political views in order to prevent individuals' goal inferences from interfering with public health messaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Stevens
- Department of Communication College of Letters and Science University of California, Davis Davis, CA United States
| | - Nicholas A Palomares
- Department of Communication Studies Moody College of Communication The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX United States
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