Beliefs in Conspiracy Theories and Self-Reported Changes in Anxiety and Depression in the Sample of Latvian Students during the COVID-19 State of Emergency

Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation

Description

The aim of the study was to determine the association of believes in conspiracy theories and changes in anxiety and depressive symptoms in Latvian students during the COVID-19 emergency state. . A study was a part of a large international project. During the second COVID-19 outbreak students from Latvia were asked to fill out the self-reported online questionnaire. Anxiety was assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y1 and depression was assessed using Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics (Pearson’s chi-square test and binomial logistic regression).. The survey completed 1047 Latvian students. Certain believes were associated with self-reported worsening in relation to the appearance of depression: believe that the recommended COVID-19 safety measures are an attempt to restrict human rights and lead to some kind of dictatorship a little (OR=2.41); believe that COVID-19 has much lower mortality rate but there is misinformation and terror-inducing propaganda (OR=1.85); believe that COVID-19 outbreak is a deliberate creation of the world’s powerful leaders (OR=2.17); and a believe that a small, secret group of people is responsible for taking all the important decisions, such as starting wars (OR=2.15). Believe that the recommended COVID-19 safety measures are an attempt to restrict human rights and lead to some kind of dictatorship increased odds to worsening of depression and anxiety (OR=1.72 and OR=2.41, respectively). Respondents who tend to believe that earth is flat rather than spherical a little bit or maybe had 2.30 increased odds of having worse or much worse anxiety.. Believes in conspiracy theories are associated to the increase of anxiety and depressive symptoms. The study’s findings can help to develop future strategies to management of psychological support for different groups in Latvian population.
Period29 Mar 2023
Event titleRSU International Research Conference 2023: Knowledge for Use in Practice
Event typeConference
OrganiserRīga Stradiņš University
LocationRiga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational

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