Depression, reduced education, and bias perceptions as risk factors of beliefs in misinformation

Abstract

The spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 has represented one of the several undesirable effects of the current pandemic. In understanding why people can be more or less at risk to believe in misinformation, emotional distress and education could play a crucial role. The present study aims to analyze the relationship among depressive symptoms, education, and beliefs in misinformation about COVID-19 during the early phase of the pandemic. We do this through a cross-sectional study carried out on a random and representative sample of the Italian population that allows us to go and verify the co-evolution of many factors: i.e., beliefs in misinformation, symptoms of depression, perceptions about COVID-19, ways in which citizens got informed about the pandemic, and sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, education). The results show that the relationship between depression and beliefs in misinformation exists and is more complex than hypothesized because it is mediated by individual perceptions. In particular, the most at-risk people to believe in misinformation show higher bias perceptions, higher depression, and lower education. Practical implications are discussed suggesting a supportive intervention at both individual and social levels.

Figure 1

Boxplot of the mood (i.e., SMFQ index) for two categories of individuals: those who believe in a conspiracy theory about COVID-19 (CT) and those who don't (No CT).

Figure 2

Relationship between bias in perception and probability in believing in misinformation. *Note The estimates in the figure refer to a probit panel data model (i.e., Model II of Table 1), with robust standard errors.