Institutional and non-institutional news trust as predictors of COVID-19 beliefs: Evidence from three European countries.

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  • Author(s): Arrese Á;Arrese Á
  • Source:
    Public understanding of science (Bristol, England) [Public Underst Sci] 2024 May; Vol. 33 (4), pp. 430-446. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Dec 23.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Sage Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9306503 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1361-6609 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09636625 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Public Underst Sci Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: London : Sage
      Original Publication: [Bristol] : Published by the Institute of Physics in association with the Science Museum, c1992-
    • Subject Terms:
      COVID-19*/psychology ; Trust* ; Mass Media*; Humans ; United Kingdom ; Germany ; Spain ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Communication ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Middle Aged ; Politics ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Europe
    • Abstract:
      The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by an infodemic in which trust in news played an essential role. This article analyzes how this trust can be divided into two components, institutional and non-institutional, which are differentially related to beliefs about COVID-19 and perceptions of receiving misinformation and disinformation. Based on a survey conducted in three European countries (Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom), the study confirms that higher levels of institutional news trust (the trust dimension correlated more with trust in the news media, government, politicians, national and global health organizations, and scientists) are a good predictor of both better knowledge of COVID-19 myths and misstatements, and lower perceptions of being surrounded by false and misleading information about the virus. The research also highlights the special role of media and political sources in strengthening the institutional dimension of news trust.
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: COVID-19 beliefs; institutional news trust; mis- and disinformation; news sources; non-institutional news trust
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20231223 Date Completed: 20240427 Latest Revision: 20240727
    • Publication Date:
      20240728
    • Accession Number:
      10.1177/09636625231217081
    • Accession Number:
      38140835