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. 2021 Oct 28;18(21):11319.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph182111319.

Validation of the COVID-19 Transmission Misinformation Scale and Conditional Indirect Negative Effects on Wearing a Mask in Public

Stephen Bok  1 , Daniel E Martin  2 , Erik Acosta  1 , Maria Lee  3 , James Shum  4
Affiliations

Validation of the COVID-19 Transmission Misinformation Scale and Conditional Indirect Negative Effects on Wearing a Mask in Public

Stephen Bok et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic devastated the world economy. Global infections and deaths altered the behaviors of generations. The Internet acted as an incredible vehicle for communication but was also a source of unfounded rumors. Unfortunately, this freedom of information sharing and fear of COVID-19 fostered unfounded claims about transmission (e.g., 5G networks spread the disease). With negligible enforcement to stop the spread of rumors and government officials spouting unfounded claims, falsities became ubiquitous. Organizations, public health officials, researchers, and businesses spent limited resources addressing rumors instead of implementing policies to overcome challenges (e.g., speaking to defiant mask wearers versus safe reopening actions). The researchers defined COVID-19 transmission misinformation as false beliefs about the spread and prevention of contracting the disease. Design and validation of the 12-item COVID-19 Transmission Misinformation Scale (CTMS) provides a measure to identify transmission misinformation believers. Indirect COVID-19 transmission misinformation beliefs with a fear of COVID-19 decreased wearing a mask in public intentions. Callousness exacerbated COVID-19 transmission misinformation beliefs as a moderator.

Keywords: COVID-19 Transmission Misinformation Scale (CTMS); interitem correlation; moderated mediation analysis; predictive validity; reliability; validation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study 4 hypothesized model of effect on wearing a mask in public.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Study 4 effects on wearing a mask in public model estimates.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Indirect conditional effects with fear of COVID-19 and callousness.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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