Religious Beliefs as a Mediator Between Conspiracy Beliefs and Health Behaviors

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 25 Sayı: 1, 334 - 346, 25.03.2025

Ahmet Yasin Şenyurt

https://doi.org/10.11616/asbi.1585793

Öz

Religious beliefs play a significant role in shaping health-related behaviors and conspiracy theories. Typically, religious beliefs exhibit a favorable association with both health behavior and conspiracy theories, in contrast to the unfavorable relationship between health practices and conspiracy theories. This study investigated the mediating role of religious beliefs in the relationship between conspiracy theories and health-related behaviors. The study included 231 participants (161 females and 69 males). The Health Protection Behavior Scale, Religious Lifestyle Scale, and General Belief in Conspiracy Theories Scale were administered. Positive correlations were observed between the behavioral subdimension of the health-protective behavior scale and the belief, morality, and worship subdimensions of the religious commitment scale. Trust in health services was also associated with worship and morality. It was also revealed that morality fully mediated the relationship between beliefs in government conspiracies and health behavior. The findings were discussed within social context, given that the investigation was conducted in a non-Western and Muslim society.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Religious beliefs, Conspiracy theories, Health protection behaviors

Dini İnançların Komplo İnançları ve Sağlık Davranışları Arasındaki Aracılık Rolü

Öz

Dini inançlar, sağlıkla ilgili davranışların ve komplo teorilerinin şekillenmesinde önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Genellikle dini inançlar, sağlık davranışları ve komplo teorileriyle pozitif yönlü bir ilişki gösterirken, sağlık uygulamaları ile komplo teorileri arasında negative yönlü bir ilişki gözlemlenmektedir. Bu çalışma, dini inançların komplo teorileri ve sağlıkla ilgili davranışlar arasındaki ilişkide aracı rolünü araştırmıştır. Çalışmaya yaş ortalaması 22.7 olan 23 katılımcı (161 kadın ve 69 erkek) dahil edilmiştir. Sağlık Koruma Davranış Ölçeği, Dini Yaşam Tarzı Ölçeği ve Genel Komplo Teorilerine İnanç Ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Sağlık koruma davranış ölçeğinin davranış alt boyutu ile dini bağlılık ölçeğinin inanç, ahlak ve ibadet alt boyutları arasında pozitif korelasyonlar gözlemlenmiştir. Sağlık hizmetlerine güven, ibadet ve ahlak ile ilişkilendirilmiştir. Ayrıca, hükümet komplolarına olan inançlar ile sağlık davranışları arasındaki ilişkide ahlakın tam aracılık ettiği ortaya konulmuştur. Bulgular, mevcut literatür ve çalışmanın Müslüman nüfusun yoğunlukta olduğu bir toplumda yürütülmesi göz önüne alınarak sosyal bağlam içerisinde analiz edilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Dini inançlar, Komplo teorileri, Sağlık koruma davranışları, İnanç sistemleri

Kaynakça

• Ay, G. (2022). Validity And Reliability Of The Turkish Version Of The Health Protection Behavior Scale. Unpublished Master’s thesis. Institute of Health and Science, Balıkesir University, Balıkesir.
• Allington, D., Duffy, B., Wessely, S., Dhavan, N., & Rubin, J. (2021). Health-Protective Behavior, Social Media Usage, And Conspiracy Belief During The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Psychological Medicine, 51(10), p.1763–1769. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003329172000224X
• Alper, S., Bayrak, F. & Yilmaz, O. (2021). Psychological Correlates Of COVID-19 Conspiracy Beliefs And Preventive Measures: Evidence From Turkey. Current Psychology, 40, p.5708–5717 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00903-0
• Bertin, P., Nera, K., & Delouvée, S. (2020). Conspiracy Beliefs, Rejection Of Vaccination, And Support For Hydroxychloroquine: A Conceptual Replication Extension In The COVID-19 Pandemic Context. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, p.565128. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.565128
• Bierwiaczonek, K., Gundersen, A. B., & Kunst, J. R. (2022). The Role Of Conspiracy Beliefs For COVID-19 Health Responses: A Meta-Analysis. Current Opinion in Psychology, 46, p.101346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101346
• Brotherton, R., French, C. C., & Pickering, A. D. (2013). Measuring Belief In Conspiracy Theories: The Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, p.1-15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00279
• Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Buchner, A., & Lang, A.-G. (2009). Statistical Power Analyses Using G*Power 3.1: Tests For Correlation And Regression Analyses. Behavior Research Methods, 41, p.1149-1160. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149
• Jabkowski, P., Domaradzki, J., & Baranowski, M. (2023). Exploring COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories: Education, Religiosity, Trust In Scientists, And Political Orientation In 26 European Countries. Scientific Reports, 13(1), p.18116. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44752-w
• Johnstone, B., Yoon, D. P., Cohen, D., Schopp, L. H., McCormack, G., Campbell, J., & Smith, M. (2012). Relationships Among Spirituality, Religious Practices, Personality Factors, And Health For Five Different Faith Traditions. Journal of Religion and Health, 51(4), p.1017–1041. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-012-9615-8
• Kayıklık, H. & Kalgı, M. E. (2017). Dinsel Yaşış Ölçeği: Geçerlik Güvenirlik Çalışması [Religious Life Scale: Validity and Reliability Study]. Çukurova Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 17 (1), p.1-19. https://doi.org/10.30627/cuilah.325986
• Kim, S., & Kim, S. (2020). Searching For General Model Of Conspiracy Theories And Its’ Implication For Public Health Policy: Analysis Of The Impacts Of Political, Psychological, Structural Sactors On Conspiracy Beliefs About The COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(1), p.266. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18010266
• Koenig, H. G., & Al Shohaib, S. (2024). Religious Involvement And Psychological Well-Being In The Middle East. International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 59(3), p.341–359. https://doi.org/10.1177/00912174231197548
• Krause, N., Ellison, C. G., & Wulff, K. M. (1998). Church-Based Emotional Support, Negative Interaction, And Psychological Well-Being: Findings From A National Sample Of Presbyterians. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37(4), p.725–741. https://doi.org/10.2307/138815
• Kretzler, B., König, H. H., Brandt, L., Weiss, H. R., & Hajek, A. (2022). Religious Denomination, Religiosity, Religious Attendance, And Cancer Prevention. A Systematic Review. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 15, p.45–58. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S341085
• Łowicki, P., Marchlewska, M., Molenda, Z., Karakula, A., & Szczepańska, D. (2022). Does Religion Predict Coronavirus Conspiracy Beliefs? Centrality Of Religiosity, Religious Fundamentalism, And COVID-19 Conspiracy Beliefs. Personality and Individual Differences, 187, p.111413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111413
• Maciuszek, J., Polak, M., Stasiuk, K., & Rosiński, J. (2023). Declared Intention To Vaccinate Against COVID-19 And Actual Vaccination-The Role Of Trust In Science, Conspiratorial Thinking And Religiosity. Vaccines, 11(2), p.262. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11020262
• Magarini, F. M., Pinelli, M., Sinisi, A., Ferrari, S., De Fazio, G. L., & Galeazzi, G. M. (2021). Irrational Beliefs About COVID-19: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(19), p.9839. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18199839
• Musick, M. A., House, J. S., & Williams, D. R. (2004). Attendance At Religious Services And Mortality In A National Sample. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 45(2), p.198–213. https://doi.org/10.1177/002214650404500206
• Nefes, T. S. (2014) ‘The function of secrecy in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories: the case of Dönmes in Turkey’, in M. Reinkowski and M. Butter (eds.) Conspiracy Theories in the United States and the Middle East: A Comparative Approach, Berlin: De Gruyter: p.139-156.
• Nejat, P., Heirani-Tabas, A., & Nazarpour, M. M. (2023). Moral Foundations Are Better Predictors Of Belief In COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Than The Big Five Personality Traits. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, p.1201695. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1201695
• Page, R. L., Ellison, C. G., & Lee, J. (2009). Does Religiosity Affect Health Risk Behaviors In Pregnant And Postpartum Women? Maternal and Child Health Journal, 13(5), p.621–632. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-008-0394-5
• Ping W, Cao W, Tan H, Guo C, Dou Z, et al. (2018) Health Protective Behavior Scale: Development And Psychometric Evaluation. PLOS ONE, 13(1), p.e0190390. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190390
• Rew, L. & Wong. Y. J. (2006). A Systematic Review Of Associations Among Religiosity/Spirituality And Adolescent Health Attitudes And Behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Health, 38, p.433–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.02.004
• Rippentrop, E. A., Altmaier, E. M., Chen, J. J., Found, E. M., & Keffala, V. J. (2005). The Relationship Between Religion/Spirituality And Physical Health, Mental Health, And Pain In A Chronic Pain Population. Pain, 116(3), p.311–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2005.05.008
• Romer, D., & Jamieson, K. H. (2020). Conspiracy Theories As Barriers To Controlling The Spread Of COVID-19 In The U.S. Social Science & Medicine, 263, p.113356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113356
• Schreiber, J. A., & Brockopp, D. Y. (2012). Twenty-Five Years Later--What Do We Know About Religion/Spirituality And Psychological Well-Being Among Breast Cancer Survivors? A Systematic Review. Journal of Cancer Survivorship: Research and Practice, 6(1), p.82–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-011-0193-7
• Sobol, M., Zajenkowski, M., & Jankowski, K. S. (2022). Religious Fundamentalism, Delusions, And Conspiracy Beliefs Related To The COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), p.9597. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159597
• Sternisko, A., Cichocka, A. & van Bavel, J. J. (2020). The Dark Side Of Social Movements: Social Identity, Nonconformity, And The Lure Of Conspiracy Theories. Current Opinion in Psychology, 35, p.1-6, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.02.007
• Stroope, S., & Baker, J. O. (2018). Whose moral community? Religiosity, secularity, and self-rated health across communal religious contexts. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 59(2), p.185-199. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146518755698
• Tam, M., S. (2023). Genel Komplo Teorilerine İnanma Ölçeğinin Türkçeye Uyarlanması [Adaptation of the Belief in General Conspiracy Theories Scale into Turkish]. İNİF E- Dergi, 8(2), p.76-90.
• The Jamovi Project (2024). Jamovi. (Version 2.5) [Computer Software]. Retrieved from https://www.jamovi.org.
• Van Prooijen, J. W. & Douglas, K. M. (2018). Belief In Conspiracy Theories: Basic Principles Of An Emerging Research Domain. European Journal of Social Psychology, 48, p.897–908. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2530