The mediation and moderating roles of infodemic literacy on the relationship between belief in conspiracy theories and COVID-19 vaccine confidence

Year 2025, Volume: 23 Issue: 2, 187 - 199, 09.08.2025

Sema Çağlayan

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the association between infodemic literacy and belief
in conspiracy theories (BiCT), as well as COVID-19 vaccine confidence (VC). Additionally, the
study examines the mediating and moderating roles of infodemic literacy in the relationship between
BiCTs and COVID-19 vaccine confidence.
Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted with a sample of
1,234 participants from Türkiye. The data were obtained through an online survey containing three
different scales and analyzed using SPSS V27 and PROCESS Macro.
Results: The results showed that increased BiCT was negatively associated with COVID-19 VC
(β=-0.49, p=0.001). Infodemic literacy, on the other hand, was associated with a reduction in BiCT
(β=-0.09, p=0.003), an increase in COVID-19 VC (β=0.11, p=0.001), and an increased likelihood
of vaccine uptake (odds ratio= 1.38, p=0.012). Additionally, the mediation analysis suggested that
infodemic literacy weakened the negative relationship between BiCT and COVID-19 VC [mediation
index= -0.007, 95% confidence interval (CI)= (-0.015 to -0.001)]. The moderation analysis, however,
indicated that infodemic literacy did not significantly moderate the relationship between BiCT and
VC [b=-0.07, 95% CI= (-0.168 to 0.032)].
Conclusion: Infodemic literacy can be considered a comprehensive tool for strengthening individuals
and communities against pandemic processes, due to its ability to reduce BiCT and its positive
contribution to the vaccination process. Greater emphasis should be placed on the importance of
developing the necessary education and strategies to increase i nfodemic literacy.

Keywords

Infodemic , Infodemic literacy , Conspiracy theories , COVID-19 vaccine , Vaccine confidence

Ethical Statement

The research was conducted with the approval of the Kocaeli University Social and Human Sciences Ethics Committee, dated 20th September 2024, and numbered 25.

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