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Loneliness trajectories over three decades are associated with conspiracist worldviews in midlife

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  • Kinga Bierwiaczonek

    (University of Oslo)

  • Sam Fluit

    (University of Oslo)

  • Tilmann Soest

    (University of Oslo
    Oslo Metropolitan University)

  • Matthew J. Hornsey

    (University of Queensland)

  • Jonas R. Kunst

    (University of Oslo)

Abstract

In the age of misinformation, conspiracy theories can have far-reaching consequences for individuals and society. Social and emotional experiences throughout the life course, such as loneliness, may be associated with a tendency to hold conspiracist worldviews. Here, we present results from a population-based sample of Norwegians followed for almost three decades, from adolescence into midlife (N = 2215). We examine participants’ life trajectories of loneliness using latent growth curve modeling. We show that people reporting high levels of loneliness in adolescence, and those who experience increasing loneliness over the life course, are more likely to endorse conspiracy worldviews in midlife.

Suggested Citation

  • Kinga Bierwiaczonek & Sam Fluit & Tilmann Soest & Matthew J. Hornsey & Jonas R. Kunst, 2024. "Loneliness trajectories over three decades are associated with conspiracist worldviews in midlife," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47113-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47113-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thomas Hansen & Britt Slagsvold, 2016. "Late-Life Loneliness in 11 European Countries: Results from the Generations and Gender Survey," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 129(1), pages 445-464, October.
    2. Jay J. Van Bavel & Katherine Baicker & Paulo S. Boggio & Valerio Capraro & Aleksandra Cichocka & Mina Cikara & Molly J. Crockett & Alia J. Crum & Karen M. Douglas & James N. Druckman & John Drury & Oe, 2020. "Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(5), pages 460-471, May.
    3. Roland Imhoff & Felix Zimmer & Olivier Klein & João H. C. António & Maria Babinska & Adrian Bangerter & Michal Bilewicz & Nebojša Blanuša & Kosta Bovan & Rumena Bužarovska & Aleksandra Cichocka & Sylv, 2022. "Conspiracy mentality and political orientation across 26 countries," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(3), pages 392-403, March.
    4. Sander Linden, 2019. "Countering science denial," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 3(9), pages 889-890, September.
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