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The Effects of Personality Traits on Online Rumor Sharing: The Mediating Role of Fear of COVID-19

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  • Kai Li

    (School of Journalism and Communication, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China)

  • Jie Li

    (School of Journalism and Communication, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China)

  • Fen Zhou

    (School of Journalism and Communication, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China)

Abstract

This study aims to explore the effects of personality traits on online rumor sharing during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the mediating role of the fear of COVID-19 between them. We conducted this research using a web-based questionnaire distributed to 452 university students who were invited to fill it out. The partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method was used to test the data and model, with the yielded results demonstrating that three—extroversion, emotional instability, and conscientiousness—of the Big Five personality traits are positively related to a fear of COVID-19, with this fear positively affecting online rumor sharing. Moreover, fear of COVID-19 was found to act as a mediator between personality traits and online rumor sharing; thus, we can conclude that persons with high levels of extroversion, emotional instability, and conscientiousness are more likely to share rumors online due to a fear of COVID-19. This study furthers our understanding of the psychological mechanism by which personality traits influence online rumor sharing and provides references for anti-rumor campaigns taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it identifies key groups and sheds light on the necessity of reducing people’s fear of COVID-19.

Suggested Citation

  • Kai Li & Jie Li & Fen Zhou, 2022. "The Effects of Personality Traits on Online Rumor Sharing: The Mediating Role of Fear of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:6157-:d:818701
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Liwei Zhang & Kelin Chen & He Jiang & Ji Zhao, 2020. "How the Health Rumor Misleads People’s Perception in a Public Health Emergency: Lessons from a Purchase Craze during the COVID-19 Outbreak in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Xinshu Zhao & John G. Lynch & Qimei Chen, 2010. "Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and Truths about Mediation Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 37(2), pages 197-206, August.
    3. Tom Buchanan, 2020. "Why do people spread false information online? The effects of message and viewer characteristics on self-reported likelihood of sharing social media disinformation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-33, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Adrian Kwek & Luke Peh & Josef Tan & Jin Xing Lee, 2023. "Distractions, analytical thinking and falling for fake news: A survey of psychological factors," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.

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