IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i9p5557-d807951.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impaired Perceptions and Conspiracy Beliefs about the Way of Emergence of the COVID-19 Infection

Author

Listed:
  • Aysen Kutan Fenercioglu

    (Department of Family Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34098, Turkey)

  • Gunay Can

    (Department of Public Health, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34098, Turkey)

  • Nurver Turfaner Sipahioglu

    (Department of Family Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34098, Turkey)

  • Osman Demir

    (Family Healthcare Centre, Kagithane No. 10, Istanbul 34400, Turkey)

  • Semih Gulluoglu

    (Department of Family Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34098, Turkey)

  • Iyigun Gedik

    (Department of Family Medicine, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul 34098, Turkey)

  • Gul Ece Altintas

    (Family Healthcare Centre, Fatih No. 7, Istanbul 34104, Turkey)

  • Asena Cosgun

    (Family Healthcare Centre, Kartal No. 7, Istanbul 34862, Turkey)

  • Zekiye Gurcan

    (Family Healthcare Centre, Besiktas No. 7, Istanbul 34337, Turkey)

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the perceptions and conspiracy theories surrounding the new coronavirus infection. We aimed to explore associations between COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs with recommended health protective attitudes and sociodemographic features among the Turkish population. A questionnaire consisting of seven items about COVID-19 conspiracy theories and perceptions and ten items about attitudes was given to patients and their relatives in five different centres during the second national lockdown in Istanbul. A chi-square test was used to evaluate the associations of disease perceptions and conspiracy beliefs with sociodemographic features and with health protective attitudes. Logistic regression analysis was performed for significant results. Of 483 participants, 242 (50.1%) were found to have a conspiracy belief. Conspiracy theories were more frequent in the participants who were older than 50 years of age ( p = 0.009) (OR: 1.83) and less frequent in higher education levels ( p = 0.005) (OR: 0.499). In addition, 6.6% of the participants were infected with COVID-19, but having the infection was found to have no effect on disease perceptions or conspiracy beliefs. Wearing a mask in crowds, avoiding shaking hands and kissing, and washing hands were less frequent among conspiracy believers and participants with impaired perceptions. These results indicate that misconceptions and conspiracy beliefs are driving the adoption of disinformation about the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

Suggested Citation

  • Aysen Kutan Fenercioglu & Gunay Can & Nurver Turfaner Sipahioglu & Osman Demir & Semih Gulluoglu & Iyigun Gedik & Gul Ece Altintas & Asena Cosgun & Zekiye Gurcan, 2022. "Impaired Perceptions and Conspiracy Beliefs about the Way of Emergence of the COVID-19 Infection," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5557-:d:807951
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/5557/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/5557/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Robert West & Susan Michie & G. James Rubin & Richard Amlôt, 2020. "Applying principles of behaviour change to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(5), pages 451-459, May.
    2. Malik Sallam & Deema Dababseh & Alaa’ Yaseen & Ayat Al-Haidar & Nidaa A. Ababneh & Faris G. Bakri & Azmi Mahafzah, 2020. "Conspiracy Beliefs Are Associated with Lower Knowledge and Higher Anxiety Levels Regarding COVID-19 among Students at the University of Jordan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-15, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sara Staszak & Julia Maciejowska & Wiktoria Urjasz & Tomasz Misiuro & Andrzej Cudo, 2022. "The Relationship between the Need for Closure and Coronavirus Fear: The Mediating Effect of Beliefs in Conspiracy Theories about COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-18, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hubert, Philipp & Abdel Hadi, Sascha & Mojzisch, Andreas & Häusser, Jan Alexander, 2022. "The effects of organizational climate on adherence to guidelines for COVID-19 prevention," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    2. Tianzhen Hu & Li Li & Chuanxue Lin & Zikun Yang & Cheng Chow & Zhipeng Lu & Chen You, 2022. "An Analysis of the Willingness to the COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots among Urban Employees: Evidence from a Megacity H in Eastern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Marilena Mousoulidou & Michailina Siakalli & Andri Christodoulou & Marios Argyrides, 2023. "Conspiracy Theories, Trust in Science, and Knowledge during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Cyprus," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-15, September.
    4. Natalie J Shook & Barış Sevi & Jerin Lee & Benjamin Oosterhoff & Holly N Fitzgerald, 2020. "Disease avoidance in the time of COVID-19: The behavioral immune system is associated with concern and preventative health behaviors," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Panarello, Demetrio & Tassinari, Giorgio, 2022. "One year of COVID-19 in Italy: are containment policies enough to shape the pandemic pattern?," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    6. Rachel Leonard & Sean R. O'Connor & Jennifer Hanratty & Ciara Keenan & Yuan Chi & Jenny Ferguson & Ariana Axiaq & Anna Volz & Ceri Welsh & Kerry Campbell & Victoria Hawkins & Sarah Miller & Declan Bra, 2024. "Psychological and psychosocial determinants of COVID‐related handwashing behaviours: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(3), September.
    7. Casoria, Fortuna & Galeotti, Fabio & Villeval, Marie Claire, 2021. "Perceived social norm and behavior quickly adjusted to legal changes during the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 54-65.
    8. Simón A. Rella & Yuliya A. Kulikova & Emmanouil T. Dermitzakis & Fyodor A. Kondrashov, 2021. "Rates of SARS-COV-2 transmission and vaccination impact the fate of vaccine-resistant strains," Working Papers 2129, Banco de España.
    9. Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez & Eduardo Navarro-Jiménez & Manuel Jimenez & Alberto Hormeño-Holgado & Marina Begoña Martinez-Gonzalez & Juan Camilo Benitez-Agudelo & Natalia Perez-Palencia & Carmen Ce, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Public Mental Health: An Extensive Narrative Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-21, March.
    10. Giuseppina Lo Moro & Giacomo Scaioli & Fabrizio Bert & Andrea Lorenzo Zacchero & Ettore Minutiello & Roberta Siliquini, 2022. "Exploring the Relationship between COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal and Belief in Fake News and Conspiracy Theories: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, July.
    11. Filip Raciborski & Mateusz Jankowski & Mariusz Gujski & Jarosław Pinkas & Piotr Samel-Kowalik & Artur Zaczyński & Igor Pańkowski & Kamil Rakocy & Waldemar Wierzba, 2020. "Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Police Officers in Poland—Implications for Public Health Policies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-16, December.
    12. van Mulukom, Valerie & Pummerer, Lotte J. & Alper, Sinan & Bai, Hui & Čavojová, Vladimíra & Farias, Jessica & Kay, Cameron S. & Lazarevic, Ljiljana B. & Lobato, Emilio J.C. & Marinthe, Gaëlle & Pavela, 2022. "Antecedents and consequences of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    13. Nefes, Türkay Salim & Präg, Patrick & Romero-Reche, Alejandro & Pereira-Puga, Manuel, 2023. "Believing in conspiracy theories in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic: Drivers and public health implications," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    14. Hai-Anh Dang & Toan L.D. Huynh & Manh-Hung Nguyen, 2023. "Does the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affect the poor? Evidence from a six-country survey," Journal of Economics and Development, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 26(1), pages 2-18, December.
    15. Daoust, Jean-François & Bélanger, Éric & Dassonneville, Ruth & Lachapelle, Erick & Nadeau, Richard & Becher, Michael & Brouard, Sylvain & Foucault, Martial & Hönnige, Christoph & Stegmueller, Daniel, 2020. "Face-Saving Strategies Increase Self-Reported Non-Compliance with COVID-19 Preventive Measures: Experimental Evidence from 12 Countries," SocArXiv tkrs7, Center for Open Science.
    16. Nan, Xiaoli & Wang, Yuan & Thier, Kathryn, 2022. "Why do people believe health misinformation and who is at risk? A systematic review of individual differences in susceptibility to health misinformation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    17. Nina Hoffer & Sabrina Lex & Uwe K. Simon, 2022. "Virology in Schoolbooks—A Comprehensive Analysis of Austrian Biology Textbooks for Secondary School and Implications for Improvement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-24, September.
    18. Nicolás C. Bronfman & Paula B. Repetto & Pamela C. Cisternas & Javiera V. Castañeda, 2021. "Factors Influencing the Adoption of COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors in Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-13, May.
    19. Lukas Zenk & Gerald Steiner & Miguel Pina e Cunha & Manfred D. Laubichler & Martin Bertau & Martin J. Kainz & Carlo Jäger & Eva S. Schernhammer, 2020. "Fast Response to Superspreading: Uncertainty and Complexity in the Context of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-13, October.
    20. Tensi, Annika Francesca & Ang, Frederic & van der Fels-Klerx, H.J., 2022. "Behavioural drivers and barriers for adopting microbial applications in arable farms: Evidence from the Netherlands and Germany," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5557-:d:807951. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.