ABSTRACT

This study explores the mediating role of prior exposure to a rumor in the relationship between anxiety and rumor believability, and the moderated mediation thereof by government trust and health literacy. A total of 534 participants aged 19–59 were recruited from a research survey panel in an early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. Using two negative COVID-19 rumors, prior exposure to a rumor and rumor believability were measured for each rumor. The results showed that anxiety about COVID-19 led to rumor believability, mediated by prior exposure to a rumor. Government trust moderated the relationship between anxiety and rumor exposure in both rumor cases. Health literacy moderated the relationship between anxiety and rumor believability only in the rumor about lung damage caused by COVID-19.

摘要

本研究探讨了先前接触过谣言在焦虑与谣言可信度之间的关系中的中介作用，以及政府信任和健康素养对其的调节作用。在韩国 COVID-19 大流行的早期阶段，从一个研究调查小组中招募了 534 名年龄在 19-59 岁之间的参与者。使用两个负面的 COVID-19 谣言，对每个谣言的先前曝光率和谣言可信度进行了测量。结果表明，对 COVID-19 的焦虑导致了谣言的可信度，这是由先前接触谣言介导的。在两个谣言案例中，政府信任调节了焦虑和谣言暴露之间的关系。健康素养仅在关于 COVID-19 造成肺损伤的谣言中调节焦虑与谣言可信度之间的关系。