• Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
24/7 Health News
No Result
View All Result
Home Article

Young people may be more likely to believe in conspiracy theories that deny COVID facts – here’s how to respond

September 15, 2022
in Article
Young people may be more likely to believe in conspiracy theories that deny COVID facts – here’s how to respond

GaudiLab/Shutterstock

The COVID pandemic has been a shock. Practically nobody alive today has previously encountered a virus so contagious that it spreads worldwide, infects at least half a billion people, kills millions, and brings everyday life to a halt. It simply beggars belief.

In this climate, it’s not entirely surprising that there are some people who wish to dispute what’s happening. COVID denial occurs on a spectrum, from playing down the effects of the virus, to denying its existence altogether through belief in “hoax” conspiracy theories.

While all kinds of people can hold these beliefs, my research team and I have found that younger people are often more likely to believe in COVID conspiracy theories compared with older people.

We don’t fully understand why this is. But whatever the reasons, belief in conspiracy theories can be incredibly damaging. So we must resist, and engage with those who deny the facts where possible.


Quarter life, a series by The Conversation

This article is part of Quarter Life, a series about issues affecting those of us in our twenties and thirties. From the challenges of beginning a career and taking care of our mental health, to the excitement of starting a family, adopting a pet or just making friends as an adult. The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.

You may be interested in:

COVID: how careful do I still need to be around older and vulnerable family members?

Four ways you can design social media posts to combat health misinformation

COVID vaccines: why second boosters are being offered to vulnerable people in the UK – but not young and healthy people yet


Table of Contents

  • Our research
  • Staying vigilant
  • Countering COVID conspiracies

Our research

We examined the results of 133 studies from around the world to investigate what drives belief in COVID conspiracy theories, and who is more likely to believe in them. While hoax conspiracy theories were part of this, our research looked at conspiracy beliefs more broadly.

We observed that a combination of factors likely underpin belief in COVID conspiracy theories. For example, certain personality traits, like paranoia and narcissism, and cognitive traits, such as lower levels of analytical and scientific thinking, have been linked to these conspiracy beliefs.

The majority of studies that we reviewed showed that younger people are more likely to believe in COVID conspiracy theories than older people. One possible reason for this may relate to social and cultural contexts, which, in addition to individual traits, also correlate with belief in conspiracy theories.

In particular, we found that people who are disadvantaged, who distrust the government, and who feel less in control of their lives are more likely to believe in COVID conspiracy theories. This context might more often apply to younger people, who may be living on lower incomes, for example.

Staying vigilant

Belief in hoax conspiracy theories is generally accompanied by a refusal to engage in the appropriate protective behaviours (for example, mask-wearing or getting vaccinated). This can endanger conspiracy theorists as well as those around them.

While it should be easy for most of us to discern hoax conspiracy theories from the truth, it can be more difficult to protect ourselves against misinformation that disputes the severity or magnitude of the disease. Though less extreme, this can be damaging too.

For example, “COVID minimisers” suggest that infection or death rates are not as severe as official reports indicate. Presenting the threat from COVID as less than it actually is means people who come to believe such ideas may see taking precautions as less important, exacerbating the spread of the virus.

A group of women wearing masks talking, alongside a man not wearing a mask.
People who believe in COVID conspiracy theories will be less likely to follow rules and recommendations to control the virus.
Rytis Bernotas/Shutterstock

Similarly, as the pandemic has progressed, we sometimes hear people saying the latest variants are “mild” or than the pandemic is “over”. While the average symptoms of omicron might be less severe than those of earlier variants, this stance can at best misunderstand or at worst deny that COVID is still a virus to be reckoned with.

For example, long COVID can be debilitating even in formerly healthy young adults. And evidence is accumulating that COVID can affect the brain, including through increased rates of diseases like dementia, for instance.

We have to be mindful of not succumbing to the idea that the pandemic is over or no longer serious. This is not to say that we will need to have COVID restrictions forever. Rather, governments need to invest in longer-term solutions to the ongoing pandemic, like ensuring higher indoor air quality through ventilation, much like the improvements in water sanitation to prevent cholera in London in the 19th century.

Countering COVID conspiracies

Conspiracy theories trigger our evolutionary response of sensing a threat, partly through the use of emotional language. This means that repeating dry scientific facts can’t compete. Science communication needs to be engaging, and in today’s digital age, easily accessible through social media.

Dear Pandemic, a scientist-led group on Facebook and Twitter, is an excellent example of this. In addition, interactive online games have been designed to teach people about the tricks and manipulation associated with misinformation.




Read more:
How to dissuade parents from believing in anti-vaxxer conspiracy theories


But it’s not enough to communicate scientific facts and teach critical thinking. People need resources, trust in their local and national governments, and a sense of community. Community is important because we tend to believe what those around us do, and we’re more likely to follow COVID guidelines when others in our social network do the same.

The more we understand about the roots of COVID denial and conspiracy theories, and the steps we can take – not just to counter these beliefs, but to support people in receiving the correct information – the better off we will all be as we continue to navigate the pandemic.

The Conversation

Valerie van Mulukom does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

ShareTweetSharePin
Next Post
School start times and screen time late in the evening exacerbate sleep deprivation in US teenagers

School start times and screen time late in the evening exacerbate sleep deprivation in US teenagers

Most Read

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

What causes stuttering? A speech pathology researcher explains the science and the misconceptions around this speech disorder

December 15, 2022
morning back pain

Morning Again Ache Trigger Is Not the Mattress

October 11, 2021

Why Circadian Rhythms Matter for Your Health

July 30, 2024
lower back pain relief exercises

5 decrease again ache aid workouts

October 11, 2021

4 steps to building a healthier relationship with your phone

January 28, 2025
3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

3 years after legalization, we have shockingly little information about how it changed cannabis use and health harms

October 15, 2021
Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

Nasal vaccines promise to stop the COVID-19 virus before it gets to the lungs – an immunologist explains how they work

December 14, 2022
bleeding in gum

When The Bleeding in gum Is Severe ?

October 11, 2021
Good Night Sleep

6 Causes of Good Evening Sleep

October 11, 2021
Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

Kick up your heels – ballroom dancing offers benefits to the aging brain and could help stave off dementia

January 3, 2023
Biden is getting prostate cancer treatment, but that’s not the best choice for all men − a cancer researcher describes how she helped her father decide

Biden is getting prostate cancer treatment, but that’s not the best choice for all men − a cancer researcher describes how she helped her father decide

May 20, 2025
Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

Ten small changes you can make today to prevent weight gain

October 12, 2021

COVID vaccines: how one can pace up rollout in poorer international locations

October 5, 2021

This Simple Hygiene Habit Could Cut Your Risk of Stroke, New Research Reveals

February 1, 2025

Multiple sclerosis: the link with earlier infection just got stronger – new study

October 12, 2021
Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

Support and collaboration with health-care providers can help people make health decisions

December 16, 2021
Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

Greece to make COVID vaccines mandatory for over-60s, but do vaccine mandates work?

December 1, 2021
Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

Five ways to avoid pain and injury when starting a new exercise regime

December 30, 2022
woman covered with white blanket

Exploring the Impact of Sleep Patterns on Mental Health

August 4, 2024

Maximize Your Performance – Sync with Your Circadian Rhythms

August 9, 2024
Why are some people faster than others? 2 exercise scientists explain the secrets of running speed

Why are some people faster than others? 2 exercise scientists explain the secrets of running speed

April 29, 2024
Backlash to transgender health care isn’t new − but the faulty science used to justify it has changed to meet the times

Backlash to transgender health care isn’t new − but the faulty science used to justify it has changed to meet the times

January 30, 2024
News of war can impact your mental health — here’s how to cope

Binge-eating disorder is more common than many realise, yet it’s rarely discussed – here’s what you need to know

December 2, 2022
As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

As viral infections skyrocket, masks are still a tried-and-true way to help keep yourself and others safe

December 14, 2022
GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

GPs don’t give useful weight-loss advice – new study

December 16, 2022
Nutrition advice is rife with misinformation − a medical education specialist explains how to tell valid health information from pseudoscience

Nutrition advice is rife with misinformation − a medical education specialist explains how to tell valid health information from pseudoscience

January 28, 2025
FDA limits access to COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and other high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules

FDA limits access to COVID-19 vaccine to older adults and other high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules

May 21, 2025
Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

Four ways to avoid gaining weight over the festive period – but also why you shouldn’t fret about it too much

December 22, 2022
Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

Nurses’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination for their children are highly influenced by partisanship, a new study finds

December 2, 2022
How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

How hot is too hot for the human body? Our lab found heat + humidity gets dangerous faster than many people realize

July 6, 2022
  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS

  • Home
  • Health & Wellness
  • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice

© 2020 DAILY HEALTH NEWS