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. 2020 Dec:8:100119.
doi: 10.1016/j.pdisas.2020.100119. Epub 2020 Jul 21.

Effects of misinformation on COVID-19 individual responses and recommendations for resilience of disastrous consequences of misinformation

Zapan Barua  1 , Sajib Barua  1 , Salma Aktar  1 , Najma Kabir  1 , Mingze Li  2
Affiliations

Effects of misinformation on COVID-19 individual responses and recommendations for resilience of disastrous consequences of misinformation

Zapan Barua et al. Prog Disaster Sci. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

The proliferation of misinformation on social media platforms is faster than the spread of Corona Virus Diseases (COVID-19) and it can generate hefty deleterious consequences on health amid a disaster like COVID-19. Drawing upon research on the stimulus-response theory (hypodermic needle theory) and the resilience theory, this study tested a conceptual framework considering general misinformation belief, conspiracy belief, and religious misinformation belief as the stimulus; and credibility evaluations as resilience strategy; and their effects on COVID-19 individual responses. Using a self-administered online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic, the study obtained 483 useable responses and after test, finds that all-inclusive, the propagation of misinformation on social media undermines the COVID-19 individual responses. Particularly, credibility evaluation of misinformation strongly predicts the COVID-19 individual responses with positive influences and religious misinformation beliefs as well as conspiracy beliefs and general misinformation beliefs come next and influence negatively. The findings and general recommendations will help the public, in general, to be cautious about misinformation, and the respective authority of a country, in particular, for initiating proper safety measures about disastrous misinformation to protect the public health from being exploited.

Keywords: COVID-19 individual response; Coronavirus; Credibility evaluation; Misinformation; Social media.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual Framework.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Empirical results.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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