scholarly journals Rational thinking style, rejection of coronavirus (COVID-19) conspiracy theories/theorists, and compliance with mandated requirements

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 183449092110373
Author(s):  
Viren Swami ◽  
David Barron
Keyword(s):  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Thinking Style ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Rational Thinking ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Relationship

Faced with the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, many nations have mandated sets of requirements, such as social-distancing measures. However, compliance with such measures is likely to be shaped by a range of factors. Here, we proposed and tested a mediation model in which rejection of COVID-19 conspiracy theories and/or theorists mediates the relationship between rational thinking style and compliance with mandated requirements. An online, nationally representative sample of the adult population in the United Kingdom ( N = 520) completed a previously validated measure of rational thinking style, as well as novel measures of rejection of COVID-19 conspiracy theories/theorists and compliance with mandated requirements. Intercorrelations between scores on all three measures were significant and positive. Mediation analysis indicated that rational thinking style and rejection of COVID-19 conspiracy theories/theorists, respectively, were directly associated with compliance, and that the mediated association was also significant. These results may have implications for practical policy aimed at promoting greater compliance with mandated requirements, including social distancing.

scholarly journals Analytic Thinking, Rejection of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Conspiracy Theories, and Compliance with Mandated Social-Distancing: Direct and Indirect Relationships in a Nationally Representative Sample of Adults in the United Kingdom

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viren Swami ◽  
David Barron
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Analytic Thinking ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analyses ◽  
Nationally Representative

Faced with the threat to physical and mental health posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, many nations worldwide have mandated social-distancing measures. However, individual compliance with such measures is likely to be shaped by a range of economic, socio-political, and psychological factors. Here, we proposed and tested a mediation model in which rejection of COVID-19 conspiracy theories mediates the relationship between analytic thinking and compliance with mandated social-distancing measures. A nationally representative sample of the adult population in the United Kingdom (N = 520, age M = 45.85 years) completed a previously-validated measure of analytic thinking, as well as novel measures of rejection of COVID-19 conspiracy theories and compliance with mandated social-distancing requirements that were in place in the United Kingdom in early April 2020. Exploratory factor analyses indicated that both novel measures were unidimensional with adequate internal consistency. Inter-correlations between scores on all three measures were significant and positive. Mediation analysis indicated that analytic thinking and rejection of COVID-19 conspiracy theories, respectively, were significantly and directly associated with compliance, and that the mediated association was also significant. These results may have important implications for practical policy aimed at promoting greater compliance with mandated social-distancing.

scholarly journals The Authoritarian Dynamic During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Nationalism and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment

2021 ◽  
pp. 194855062097802
Author(s):  
Todd K. Hartman ◽  
Thomas V. A. Stocks ◽  
Ryan McKay ◽  
Jilly Gibson-Miller ◽  
Liat Levita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Order ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Right Wing Authoritarianism ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Social ◽  
Political Outcomes ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Relationship

Research has demonstrated that situational factors such as perceived threats to the social order activate latent authoritarianism. The deadly COVID-19 pandemic presents a rare opportunity to test whether existential threat stemming from an indiscriminate virus moderates the relationship between authoritarianism and political attitudes toward the nation and out-groups. Using data from two large nationally representative samples of adults in the United Kingdom ( N = 2,025) and Republic of Ireland ( N = 1,041) collected during the initial phases of strict lockdown measures in both countries, we find that the associations between right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) and (1) nationalism and (2) anti-immigrant attitudes are conditional on levels of perceived threat. As anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic increases, so too does the effect of RWA on those political outcomes. Thus, it appears that existential threats to humanity from the COVID-19 pandemic moderate expressions of authoritarianism in society.

Are misinformation, antiscientific claims, and conspiracy theories for political extremists?

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-605
Author(s):  
Adam M. Enders ◽  
Joseph E. Uscinski
Keyword(s):  
The Political ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Political Orientations ◽  
Conspiracy Beliefs ◽  
Political Left ◽  
Identity Based ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Political Groups ◽  
Representative Samples

Extremist political groups, especially “extreme” Republicans and conservatives, are increasingly charged with believing misinformation, antiscientific claims, and conspiracy theories to a greater extent than moderates and those on the political left by both a burgeoning scholarly literature and popular press accounts. However, previous investigations of the relationship between political orientations and alternative beliefs have been limited in their operationalization of those beliefs and political extremity. We build on existing literature by examining the relationships between partisan and nonpartisan conspiracy beliefs and symbolic and operational forms of political extremity. Using two large, nationally representative samples of Americans, we find that ideological extremity predicts alternative beliefs only when the beliefs in question are partisan in nature and the measure of ideology is identity-based. Moreover, we find that operational ideological extremism is negatively related to nonpartisan conspiracy beliefs. Our findings help reconcile discrepant findings regarding the relationship between political orientations and conspiracy beliefs.

Mediating Effect of C-reactive Protein and Aspartate Aminotransferase on Diabetes Mellitus and Myocardial Infarction Risk

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhao ◽  
Miao-miao Jiang ◽  
Sang Hu ◽  
Chang Su ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Total Effect ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Unit Increase ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background: The relationship between diabetes and myocardial infarction has always been the focus of research, but it is not clear whether the DM-MI association is direct or mediated by other factors. Our hypothesis is that part of the risk of MI in DM patients may be mediated by CRP and AST. We examined this hypothesis in the mediation analysis and tried to assess the extent to which CRP and AST could explain the MI risk caused by DM.Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 130 patients with MI and 130 patients with no-MI. We compared the relevant biochemical indicators of MI and no-MI patients, and applied mediation analysis to test the association of CRP and AST with DM-MI Potential adjustment effect.Results: The study found that individuals who suffered MI were more likely to have DM as compared with Non-MI (OR = 2.117, 95%CI = 1.130-4.195, P = 0.020), and CRP and AST are positively correlated with the occurrence of MI, For every unit increase in CRP and AST levels, the risk level of MI Significantly increased by 1%, 3.1% respectively. The direct effect of DM and MI is 0.847, the mediating effect of CRP is 7.69% of the total effect, and the mediating effect of AST is 52.79% of the total effect. The mediation effect of the CRP-AST path is 0.386, accounting for 12.36% of the total effect. In the mediation model we verified, CRP and AST play a part of the mediation effect between DM with MI, and the total mediation effect accounts for 72.84%.Conclusions: CRP and AST play an important role in the risk of DM-induced MI. This provides evidence for the mechanism and is of great significance for the exploration of therapeutic targets.

Effect of Charitable Behavior on Life Satisfaction: a Parallel Multivariable Mediation Model

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjing Song ◽  
Chuanhua Gu ◽  
Bin Zuo
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Charitable Behavior ◽  
Self Acceptance ◽  
The Relationship

We aimed to determine how charitable behavior affects life satisfaction through the multiple mediating roles of self-acceptance and positive affect. We recruited 4,048 adults in China who voluntarily completed a survey on the frequency of their charitable behavior, self-acceptance, positive affect, and life satisfaction. Results of a parallel multivariable mediation analysis showed that more frequent charitable behavior was positively associated with greater life satisfaction. Also, self-acceptance and positive affect mediated the relationship between charitable behavior and life satisfaction. Implications for the mediating effect of charitable behavior on life satisfaction are discussed.

scholarly journals Intrapreneurial Self-Capital and Connectedness to Nature within Organizations

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 3699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duradoni ◽  
Di Fabio
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Personality Trait ◽  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Connectedness To Nature ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Mediator Variable

Research exists regarding personality traits in relation to connectedness with nature. However, it is not possible to increase personality through training. As an alternative, intrapreneurial self-capital (ISC) could be a promising core of resources for enhancing the sustainable development of behaviors and practices. Using a sample of 198 workers, this study exploratively analyzed the relationship between the extraversion personality trait, ISC, and connectedness to nature. A mediation model was employed to assess the effects of extraversion on connectedness to nature (outcome variable) through ISC (conceived as an intervening mediator variable). The mediation analysis highlighted that ISC potentially promotes workers’ connectedness to nature within organizations. Thus, implementing dedicated interventions to increase ISC could encourage sustainable development by enhancing workers’ levels of connectedness to nature.

scholarly journals Nutrition status in adult Chilean population: economic, ethnic and sex inequalities in a post-transitional country

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (S1) ◽  
pp. s39-s50 ◽  
Author(s):  
María F Mujica-Coopman ◽  
Deborah Navarro-Rosenblatt ◽  
Sandra López-Arana ◽  
Camila Corvalán
Keyword(s):  
Short Stature ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Indigenous Women ◽  
Excess Weight ◽  
Nutrition Status ◽  
Low Ses ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Transitional Country ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractObjective:To assess the relationship between malnutrition, socioeconomic status (SES) and ethnicity in Chilean adult population.Design:Nationally representative survey (ENS) conducted in 2016–2017. Sociodemographic information, weight, height and hemoglobin (Hb) were measured (2003 ENS). Excess weight was defined as BMI ≥25 kg/m2. Undernutrition included underweight (BMI <18·5 kg/m2), short stature (height <1·49 m in women and <1·62 m in men) or anaemia (Hb <12 g/l). Education and household income level were used as indicators of SES; ethnicity was self-reported. We applied linear combinations of estimators to compare the prevalence of excess weight and undernutrition by SES and ethnicity.Setting:Chile.Participants:In total, 5082 adults ≥20 years (64 % women) and 1739 women ≥20 years for anaemia analyses.Results:Overall, >75 % of women and men had excess weight. Low SES women either by income or education had higher excess weight ((82·0 (77·1, 86·1) v. 65·0 (54·8, 74·1)) by income; (85·3 (80·6, 89·0) v. 68·2 (61·6, 74·1) %) by education) and short stature (20–49 years; 31(17·9, 48·2) v. 5·2 (2·2,11·4) by education); obesity was also more frequent among indigenous women (20–49 years; 55·8 (44·4, 66·6) v. 37·2 (32·7, 42·0) %) than non-indigenous women. In men, excess weight did not significantly differ by SES or ethnicity, but short stature concentrated in low SES (20–49 years; 47·6 (24·6, 71·6) v. 4·5 (2·1, 9·5) by education) and indigenous men (21·5 (11·9, 5·5, 11·9) v. 8·2 (5·5, 11·9)) (P < 0·05 for all).Conclusions:In Chile, malnutrition is disproportionately concentrated among women of low SES and indigenous origin; these inequalities should be considered when implementing prevention policies.

Association between intelligence quotient and violence perpetration in the English general population

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (08) ◽  
pp. 1316-1323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Jacob ◽  
Josep Maria Haro ◽  
Ai Koyanagi
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Intelligence Quotient ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Psychiatric Morbidity ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Violence Perpetration ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractBackgroundData on the relationship between intelligence quotient (IQ) and violence perpetration are scarce and nationally representative data from the UK adult population is lacking. Therefore, our goal was to examine the relationship between IQ and violence perpetration using nationally representative community-based data from the UK.MethodsWe analyzed cross-sectional data from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey. IQ was estimated using the National Adult Reading Test (NART). Violence perpetration referred to being in a physical fight or having deliberately hit anyone in the past 5 years. We conducted logistic regression analysis to assess the association between IQ (exposure variable) and violence perpetration (outcome variable).ResultsThere were 6872 participants aged ⩾16 years included in this study. The prevalence of violence perpetration decreased linearly with increasing IQ [16.3% (IQ 70–79) v. 2.9% (IQ 120–129)]. After adjusting for demographic and behavioral factors, childhood adversity, and psychiatric morbidity, compared with those with IQ 120–129, IQ scores of 110–119, 100–109, 90–99, 80–89, and 70–79 were associated with 1.07 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63–1.84], 1.90 (95% CI 1.12–3.22), 1.80 (95% CI 1.05–3.13), 2.36 (95% CI 1.32–4.22), and 2.25 (95% CI 1.26–4.01) times higher odds for violence perpetration, respectively.ConclusionsLower IQ was associated with violence perpetration in the UK general population. Further studies are warranted to assess how low IQ can lead to violence perpetration, and whether interventions are possible for this high-risk group.

scholarly journals The relationship between ideology and voting preferences in the time perspective: An indicator of the ideological maturation of a young democracy?

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-179
Author(s):  
Goran Milas ◽  
Boris Milčić
Keyword(s):  
Political Party ◽  
Time Perspective ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Democratic Consolidation ◽  
Attitude Scale ◽  
Ideological Position ◽  
Voter Preferences ◽  
Electoral Choice ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Relationship

Much research has been conducted on the relationship between ideology, voter preferences and electoral choice. However, due to the complexity of the relationship, differences in the understanding of ideology and the diversity of political systems, the issue has not yet been fully explored. Current research approaches the problems by monitoring the dynamics of change in the association between ideological position and party preferences over time in Croatia. Data for the study were collected in three surveys conducted in 2003 (N=1248), 2014 (N=1000) and 2016 (N=750) on nationally representative samples of the Croatian adult population. The ideological position of an individual was measured in two ways, using General Social Attitude Scale (SAS_G) and left-right dimension self-placement. Political party preferences were measured by the reported electoral choice in the previous elections and the expressed voting choice in the forthcoming elections. The results of the current study indicate a ste-ady increase in the correlation between ideological factors and political preferences over the years. In the paper we argue that the observed increase in the corresponden-ce between one’s own ideology and the preference for a political party could be an additional indicator of democratic consolidation in transitional and post-transitional countries like Croatia. However, unlike the democratic consolidation taking place on the outside and involving the construction of democratic institutions, this is a change in the minds of citizens who broaden and deepen their political culture, knowledge of ideology, political competence and are becoming more aware of implications of their own electoral decisions.

scholarly journals A transnational and transregional study of the impact and effectiveness of social distancing for COVID-19 mitigation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarcísio M. Rocha Filho ◽  
Marcelo A. Moret ◽  
José F. F. Mendes
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Infection Rate ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Spearman’S Correlation

AbstractWe present an analysis of the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and a social distancing metric from data for all the states and most populous cities in the United States and Brazil, all the 22 European Economic Community countries and the United Kingdom. We discuss why the infection rate, instead of the effective reproduction number or growth rate of cases, is a proper choice to perform this analysis when considering a wide span of time. We obtain a strong Spearman’s rank order correlation between the social distancing metric and the infection rate in each locality. We show that mask mandates increase the values of Spearman’s correlation in the United States, where a mandate was adopted. We also obtain an explicit numerical relation between the infection rate and the social distancing metric defined in the present work.

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