Fake News in the Family: How Family Communication Patterns and Conflict History Affect the Intent to Correct Misinformation Among Family Members

Abstract

ABSTRACT Do family communication patterns or family conflict history affect the intention to correct misinformation shared by family members? A pre-registered online survey with a U.S. sample (N = 595) was conducted to answer this question. Results revealed that conversation orientation and conformity orientation positively predicted the intention to correct misinformation shared by a family member while family history was negatively related with intent. Theoretical implications for family communication research and study of misinformation correction are discussed.