The Effect of Analytical Thinking on Irrational Behaviors in Times of COVID-19: the Mediating Role of Misinformation Beliefs
Year: 2022
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The present study was to investigate the influence of analytical thinking on irrational behaviors evoked by COVID-19 (including excessive epidemic prevention and hoarding behavior) and the mediating role of misinformation beliefs related to COVID-19 (including social and pseudoscientific beliefs) in a public health crisis. 1968 Chinese participants completed the Analytical Thinking Test, Misinformation Beliefs Questionnaire and Irrational Behavior Questionnaire online. The results showed that (1) Analytical thinking had a negative prediction on both excessive epidemic prevention and hoarding behavior; (2) misinformation beliefs, even social misinformation beliefs, partly mediated the relationship between the analytical thinking and irrational behaviors. These findings provide some useful references for effectively reducing people's irrational behaviors during a public health crisis.
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4284893675