Epistemically Suspect Beliefs About COVID-19: Results From a Population Survey in Finland

IF 1.8 3区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL

Applied Cognitive Psychology Pub Date : 2025-10-02 DOI:10.1002/acp.70117

Johanna K. Kaakinen, Ali Moazami Goodarzi, Tuomo Häikiö, Pasi Kivioja, Karl O. Mäki, Daria Pritup

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Abstract

We examined the familiarity and popularity of epistemically suspect COVID-19 claims and their associations with cognitive, social, and demographic factors in a sample of people living in Finland (N = 1077) during the pandemic (September 2021–January 2022). Endorsement of these claims was associated with pseudoscientific beliefs, less actively open-minded thinking, and preference for anecdotal information. Among social factors, lower trust in governmental institutions, science, and scientists, and reliance on alternative media were linked to higher endorsement. Regarding demographic variables, higher education was associated with lower endorsement, though this effect was fully mediated by cognitive and social factors. Men endorsed epistemically suspect COVID-19 claims more than women, and endorsement decreased with age. These findings highlight the importance of education in fostering critical thinking skills and trust in institutions and science to effectively combat health-related misinformation.

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关于COVID-19的认知怀疑信念：芬兰人口调查的结果

我们研究了在大流行期间（2021年9月至2022年1月）居住在芬兰的人群样本（N = 1077）中，认识论上可疑的COVID-19主张的熟悉度和受欢迎程度，以及它们与认知、社会和人口因素的关系。对这些说法的认可与伪科学信仰、不那么积极的开放思维和对轶事信息的偏好有关。在社会因素中，对政府机构、科学和科学家的信任度较低，以及对替代媒体的依赖与较高的支持率有关。在人口统计变量方面，高等教育与较低的支持度相关，尽管这种影响完全由认知和社会因素介导。男性比女性更认同认知上可疑的COVID-19说法，而且认同程度随着年龄的增长而下降。这些发现突出了教育在培养批判性思维技能和对机构和科学的信任方面的重要性，从而有效地打击与健康有关的错误信息。

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来源期刊

Applied Cognitive Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL-

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

8.30%

发文量

111

期刊介绍： Applied Cognitive Psychology seeks to publish the best papers dealing with psychological analyses of memory, learning, thinking, problem solving, language, and consciousness as they occur in the real world. Applied Cognitive Psychology will publish papers on a wide variety of issues and from diverse theoretical perspectives. The journal focuses on studies of human performance and basic cognitive skills in everyday environments including, but not restricted to, studies of eyewitness memory, autobiographical memory, spatial cognition, skill training, expertise and skilled behaviour. Articles will normally combine realistic investigations of real world events with appropriate theoretical analyses and proper appraisal of practical implications.