From fatigue to news avoidance: analysis of the society attitude towards news on COVID-19 in Latvia

Anda Rožukalne; Sandra Murinska; Ieva Strode

Abstract

This study focuses on society attitude towards COVID-19 news employing theoretical findings on news avoidance and perceived vulnerability to the disease. Objective of this study is to understand, what is the impact of the COVID-19 news on people’s trust in news, behaviour and psychological mood during pandemic. Two surveys were used for the analysis of COVID-19 news perception: national survey in September 2020 (1005 respondents) and the Internet questionnaire in April 2020 (3414 respondents). Depending on self-assessment of COVID-19 disease risk, respondents were divided in five categories: not concerned, who assess the risk as low and unreal (14%); a little concerned (46%); moderately concerned (22%), rather concerned, who think that risk is high and real (9%), very concerned (3%). Analysing public attention towards news about COVID-19 contradictory data are obtained: 55% of respondents try to follow news, 53% say that they feel tired of news, 32% admit that they avoid news on pandemic. When assessing psychological impact of COVID-19 news 38% respondents admit indifference, 37% believe that news helps to feel safer, 28% of respondents suppress news, 27% think that news encourages to follow pandemic recommendations, 22% admit that they feel insecure due to insufficient and contradictory information about COVID-19. Respondents who rate the risk of the disease as higher and more realistic try to follow the information regularly and to a lesser extent acknowledge that COVID-19 news creates insecurity, hopelessness, indifference. The group of respondents, who assess the risk of becoming ill as high and real, trust the news more, rarely feel hopeless and less likely to avoid COVID-19 news. The members of the undisturbed group who believe that the risk of illness is low and unrealistic, are less interested in news, feel more tired, avoid the news more often, thus, this group can be described as pandemically vulnerable.

Original language	English
Pages	80
Publication status	Published - 24 Mar 2021
Event	RSU Research week 2021: PLACES - Rīga, Latvia Duration: 25 Mar 2021 → 25 Mar 2021 Conference number: 2 https://rw2021.rsu.lv/conferences/places https://rw2021.rsu.lv/events/2nd-international-interdisciplinary-conference-places

Conference

Conference	RSU Research week 2021: PLACES
Abbreviated title	RW2021
Country/Territory	Latvia
City	Rīga
Period	25/03/21 → 25/03/21
Internet address	https://rw2021.rsu.lv/conferences/places https://rw2021.rsu.lv/events/2nd-international-interdisciplinary-conference-places

Field of Science*

5.8 Media and Communication

Publication Type*

3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)

Rīga Stradiņš University the 2nd International Interdisciplinary Conference PLACES: Abstracts, 25 March, 2021
Rīga Stradiņš University, 2021, Riga: Rīga Stradiņš University. 123 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research

Open Access
Projekta papildu rezultāts Nr. 34: Priekšlikumi par optimālākajiem dažādu sabiedrības grupu informēšanas veidiem un kanāliem, viltus ziņu novēršanu, balstoties uz COVID-19 izplatības mazināšanai noteikto ierobežojumu periodā veiktā informatīvā un metodiskā atbalsta novērtējumu
Translated title of the contribution: Proposals for the optimal types and channels of information and prevention of false information, based on an assessment of information and methodological support during the restrictions set for COVID-19 reductionBērziņa, I., Krūmiņš, G., Buholcs, J., Dāvidsone, A., Silkāne, V., Zaķis, Z., Kleinberga, V., Rožukalne, A., Tīfentāle, A., Savicka, V., Freimane, G., Grūzītis, N., Mežzīle, S., Murinska, S., Šapale, S., Aņisimova, A., Andžāns, M., Sedlenieks, K., Palkova, K. & Austers, I. & 11 others, Ķencis, T., Elere, I., Elers, H., Ābelīte-Medne, Z., Grinblate, E., Margēvica, S., Rūse, A., Šteinerts, M., Voldiņa, G., Zeiļa, R. & Žabicka, A., 2020, 240 p. Rīga Stradiņš University.
Research output: Guidelines, algorithms, methodologies & Other contribution › Other contribution › Research

From fatigue to news avoidance: analysis of the society attitude towards news on COVID-19 in Latvia
Rožukalne, A. (Speaker)
25 Mar 2021
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation

Cite this

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title = "From fatigue to news avoidance: analysis of the society attitude towards news on COVID-19 in Latvia",

abstract = "This study focuses on society attitude towards COVID-19 news employing theoretical findings on news avoidance and perceived vulnerability to the disease. Objective of this study is to understand, what is the impact of the COVID-19 news on people{\textquoteright}s trust in news, behaviour and psychological mood during pandemic. Two surveys were used for the analysis of COVID-19 news perception: national survey in September 2020 (1005 respondents) and the Internet questionnaire in April 2020 (3414 respondents). Depending on self-assessment of COVID-19 disease risk, respondents were divided in five categories: not concerned, who assess the risk as low and unreal (14\%); a little concerned (46\%); moderately concerned (22\%), rather concerned, who think that risk is high and real (9\%), very concerned (3\%). Analysing public attention towards news about COVID-19 contradictory data are obtained: 55\% of respondents try to follow news, 53\% say that they feel tired of news, 32\% admit that they avoid news on pandemic. When assessing psychological impact of COVID-19 news 38\% respondents admit indifference, 37\% believe that news helps to feel safer, 28\% of respondents suppress news, 27\% think that news encourages to follow pandemic recommendations, 22\% admit that they feel insecure due to insufficient and contradictory information about COVID-19. Respondents who rate the risk of the disease as higher and more realistic try to follow the information regularly and to a lesser extent acknowledge that COVID-19 news creates insecurity, hopelessness, indifference. The group of respondents, who assess the risk of becoming ill as high and real, trust the news more, rarely feel hopeless and less likely to avoid COVID-19 news. The members of the undisturbed group who believe that the risk of illness is low and unrealistic, are less interested in news, feel more tired, avoid the news more often, thus, this group can be described as pandemically vulnerable.",

author = "Anda Ro{\v z}ukalne and Sandra Murinska and Ieva Strode",

year = "2021",

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day = "24",

language = "English",

pages = "80",

note = "RSU Research week 2021: PLACES, RW2021 ; Conference date: 25-03-2021 Through 25-03-2021",

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AU - Murinska, Sandra

AU - Strode, Ieva

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PY - 2021/3/24

Y1 - 2021/3/24

N2 - This study focuses on society attitude towards COVID-19 news employing theoretical findings on news avoidance and perceived vulnerability to the disease. Objective of this study is to understand, what is the impact of the COVID-19 news on people’s trust in news, behaviour and psychological mood during pandemic. Two surveys were used for the analysis of COVID-19 news perception: national survey in September 2020 (1005 respondents) and the Internet questionnaire in April 2020 (3414 respondents). Depending on self-assessment of COVID-19 disease risk, respondents were divided in five categories: not concerned, who assess the risk as low and unreal (14%); a little concerned (46%); moderately concerned (22%), rather concerned, who think that risk is high and real (9%), very concerned (3%). Analysing public attention towards news about COVID-19 contradictory data are obtained: 55% of respondents try to follow news, 53% say that they feel tired of news, 32% admit that they avoid news on pandemic. When assessing psychological impact of COVID-19 news 38% respondents admit indifference, 37% believe that news helps to feel safer, 28% of respondents suppress news, 27% think that news encourages to follow pandemic recommendations, 22% admit that they feel insecure due to insufficient and contradictory information about COVID-19. Respondents who rate the risk of the disease as higher and more realistic try to follow the information regularly and to a lesser extent acknowledge that COVID-19 news creates insecurity, hopelessness, indifference. The group of respondents, who assess the risk of becoming ill as high and real, trust the news more, rarely feel hopeless and less likely to avoid COVID-19 news. The members of the undisturbed group who believe that the risk of illness is low and unrealistic, are less interested in news, feel more tired, avoid the news more often, thus, this group can be described as pandemically vulnerable.

AB - This study focuses on society attitude towards COVID-19 news employing theoretical findings on news avoidance and perceived vulnerability to the disease. Objective of this study is to understand, what is the impact of the COVID-19 news on people’s trust in news, behaviour and psychological mood during pandemic. Two surveys were used for the analysis of COVID-19 news perception: national survey in September 2020 (1005 respondents) and the Internet questionnaire in April 2020 (3414 respondents). Depending on self-assessment of COVID-19 disease risk, respondents were divided in five categories: not concerned, who assess the risk as low and unreal (14%); a little concerned (46%); moderately concerned (22%), rather concerned, who think that risk is high and real (9%), very concerned (3%). Analysing public attention towards news about COVID-19 contradictory data are obtained: 55% of respondents try to follow news, 53% say that they feel tired of news, 32% admit that they avoid news on pandemic. When assessing psychological impact of COVID-19 news 38% respondents admit indifference, 37% believe that news helps to feel safer, 28% of respondents suppress news, 27% think that news encourages to follow pandemic recommendations, 22% admit that they feel insecure due to insufficient and contradictory information about COVID-19. Respondents who rate the risk of the disease as higher and more realistic try to follow the information regularly and to a lesser extent acknowledge that COVID-19 news creates insecurity, hopelessness, indifference. The group of respondents, who assess the risk of becoming ill as high and real, trust the news more, rarely feel hopeless and less likely to avoid COVID-19 news. The members of the undisturbed group who believe that the risk of illness is low and unrealistic, are less interested in news, feel more tired, avoid the news more often, thus, this group can be described as pandemically vulnerable.

M3 - Abstract

SP - 80

T2 - RSU Research week 2021: PLACES

Y2 - 25 March 2021 through 25 March 2021

ER -

From fatigue to news avoidance: analysis of the society attitude towards news on COVID-19 in Latvia

Abstract

Conference

Field of Science*

Publication Type*

Fingerprint

Research output

Rīga Stradiņš University the 2nd International Interdisciplinary Conference PLACES: Abstracts, 25 March, 2021

Activities

From fatigue to news avoidance: analysis of the society attitude towards news on COVID-19 in Latvia

Cite this