Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37681850›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2023

Conspiracy Theories, Trust in Science, and Knowledge during the Third Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Cyprus.

Marilena Mousoulidou, Michailina Siakalli, Andri Christodoulou, Marios Argyrides

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Marilena MousoulidouDepartment of Psychology, Neapolis University Pafos, Paphos 8042, Cyprus.ORCID 0000-0002-3549-2522
Michailina SiakalliDepartment of Psychology, Neapolis University Pafos, Paphos 8042, Cyprus.
Andri ChristodoulouDepartment of Psychology, Neapolis University Pafos, Paphos 8042, Cyprus.ORCID 0000-0002-3281-3327
Marios ArgyridesDepartment of Psychology, Neapolis University Pafos, Paphos 8042, Cyprus.ORCID 0000-0002-9936-7229

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Conspiracy theories flourish during periods of crisis. One way to counteract the believability of conspiracy theories is trust in science and knowledge about the "perceived threat", such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A total of 363 adults from Cyprus were recruited via convenience and snowball sampling methods. The data were collected via an internet-based questionnaire that examined participants' belief in 17 conspiracy theory statements, trust in science and scientists, knowledge about the symptoms and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, phobic anxiety, hostility, somatization, and personality traits based on the Big Five. The results suggest (a) the overall belief in conspiracy theories in Cyprus is low, even though a notable percentage holds a neutral stance towards these theories; (b) trust in science and knowledge about the symptoms and the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is negatively related to conspiracy theories, indicating the importance of trusting science and having knowledge as a means to counteract conspiracy theories; (c) young adults, those residing in rural areas, and those with a low education level are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories; (d) there are no significant associations between conspiracy theories and the psychological dimensions of phobic anxiety, hostility, and somatization; (e) there is difficulty in identifying specific traits related to conspiracy ideation. Public health officials could benefit from the findings when communicating information during periods of crisis.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeAdultCyprusDisinformationHumansPandemicsSARS-CoV-2Trustconspiracy theoriesCOVID-19Cyprusknowledgepandemictrust in science

Identifiers

PMID37681850
PMCPMC10487943

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.