The Effect of Conspiracy Theories About the COVID-19 Pandemic on Individuals' Vaccine Intention

Abstract

Aim: The ambiguity during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increasing spread of conspiracies regarding the virus's origin and vaccination. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of individuals' beliefs in conspiracy theories on COVID-19 vaccination intentions. In addition, this study aims to explore the relationship between potential individual differences in COVID-19 vaccination intentions and beliefs in COVID-19 related conspiracy theories. 
Method: The participants (N=170) were randomly assigned to three groups: the group exposed to pro-conspiracy information, the group exposed to anti-conspiracy information, and the control group. After the group manipulation, participants were expected to respond to the Anti-Vaccination Scale and the Covid-19 Conspiracy Theories Scale, and they were asked to report their education level, income level, level of conservatism, and political position. 
Results: The findings showed that individuals' attitudes towards vaccination were negative when they were exposed to conspiracy manipulation. Their attitudes towards vaccination were positively affected when they were exposed to anti-conspiracy manipulation. In addition, it was observed that individuals' attitudes towards vaccination and tendency to believe in conspiracy theories can be affected by conservatism and their education level. 
Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that exposure to pro-conspiracy and anti-conspiracy manipulations could impact vaccine attitudes. Additionally, when examining demographic variables, it was observed that conservatism and education level were associated with vaccine attitudes and conspiracy beliefs. protection. The findings of the study help us better understand how exposure to conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic affects individuals' behavior and individual differences in our country.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• conspiracy theories
• vaccination intention
• conservatism

COVID-19 Pandemisine Yönelik Komplo Teorilerinin Bireylerin Aşı Niyetine Etkisi

Abstract

Amaç: COVID-19 salgını sürecinde ortaya çıkan belirsizlik çerçevesinde, söz konusu virüsün kökeni, aşılarla ilgili komplo teorilerinin hızla yayılmasına neden olmuştur. Mevcut çalışmanın amacı, bireylerin komplo teorilerine duydukları inancın COVID-19 aşı niyetleri üzerindeki etkisinin araştırılmasıdır. Ayrıca bu çalışmada, potansiyel bireysel farklılıkların COVID-19 aşı niyetleri ve komplo teorilerine duyulan inançla ilişkisinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. 
Yöntem: Katılımcılar (N=170), komplo yanlısı bilgiye maruz bırakılan grup, komplo karşıtı bilgiye maruz bırakılan grup ve kontrol grubuna seçkisiz olarak atanmıştır. Grup manipülasyonunun ardından katılımcılardan, Aşı Karşıtlığı Ölçeği ve COVID-19’a Yönelik Komplo Teorileri Ölçeği’ni cevaplandırmaları beklenmiş, bireysel farklılıkları inceleyebilmek amacıyla eğitim seviyesi, gelir düzeyi, muhafazakârlık düzeyi ve politik konumlarını bildirmeleri istenmiştir. 
Bulgular: Bulgular, Türkiye’de yaşayan bireylerin komplo yanlısı manipülasyona maruz kaldıklarında aşılanmaya yönelik tutumlarının olumsuz, komplo karşıtı manipülasyona maruz kaldıklarında ise aşılanmaya yönelik tutumlarının olumlu etkilendiğini göstermiştir. Ayrıca, bireylerin aşılanmaya yönelik tutumlarının ve komplo teorilerine inanma eğilimlerinin politik eğilimlerinden ve eğitim seviyelerinden etkilenebildiği görülmüştür. 
Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, mevcut çalışma ile komplo yanlısı ve komplo karşıtı manipülasyona maruz kalmanın aşı tutumuna etki edebileceği gösterilmiştir. Bunun yanı sıra muhafazakârlık ve eğitim seviyesinin de aşı tutumu ve komplo inançları ile ilişkili olduğu görülmüştür. Bu çalışmanın bulguları, ülkemizde COVID-19 pandemisine yönelik komplo teorilerine maruz kalmanın, bireysel farklılıklarla birlikte kişilerin davranışlarını nasıl etkilediğini daha iyi anlamamıza yardım edecektir.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• komplo teorileri
• aşı niyeti
• muhafazakârlık

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