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Cited by 155Misinformation and Its ImpactsParanormal Experiences and BeliefsSocial and Intergroup Psychology

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 59 of the 59 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Can Conspiracy Beliefs Be Beneficial? Longitudinal Linkages Between Conspiracy Beliefs, Anxiety, Uncertainty Aversion, and Existential Threat

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Liekefett, Luisa, Christ, Oliver, Becker, Julia C.·2023·Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
DOI 10.1177/01461672211060965PMC PMC9896259
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Abstract

Research suggests that conspiracy beliefs are adopted because they promise to reduce anxiety, uncertainty, and threat. However, little research has investigated whether conspiracy beliefs actually fulfill these promises. We conducted two longitudinal studies ( N Study 1 = 405, N Study 2 = 1,012) to examine how conspiracy beliefs result from, and in turn influence, anxiety, uncertainty aversion, and existential threat. Random intercept cross-lagged panel analyses indicate that people who were, on average, more anxious, uncertainty averse, and existentially threatened held stronger conspiracy beliefs. Increases in conspiracy beliefs were either unrelated to changes in anxiety, uncertainty aversion, and existential threat (Study 2), or even predicted increases in these variables (Study 1). In both studies, increases in conspiracy beliefs predicted subsequent increases in conspiracy beliefs, suggesting a self-reinforcing circle. We conclude that conspiracy beliefs likely do not have beneficial consequences, but may even reinforce the negative experience of anxiety, uncertainty aversion, and existential threat.

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Figure 1. Exemplary random intercept cross-lagged panel model. Note. RI CB = random intercept conspiracy beliefs; RI ET = random intercept existential threat.
Figure 1. Exemplary random intercept cross-lagged panel model. Note. RI CB = random intercept conspiracy beliefs; RI ET = random intercept existential threat.CC BY-NC · PubMed Central

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. 10.2307/3560240 · DOI
  2. Nocun K., 2020, Fake Facts—Wie Verschwörungstheorien unser Denken bestimmen

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Metadata

Authors
Liekefett, L., Christ, O., & Becker, J. C.
Affiliations
  • Osnabrück University (DE)
  • FernUniversität in Hagen (DE)
Corresponding author
Liekefett, Luisa
ORCID
Venue
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2021-12-29
Volume
49
Issue
2
Pages
167-179
ISSN
  • 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-7433
DOI
10.1177/01461672211060965
PMC
PMC9896259
OpenAlex
W4200624585
Cited by
155
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 25
FWCI
31.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Misinformation and Its Impacts
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
Keywords
conspiracy beliefs, anxiety, uncertainty aversion, existential risk, belief persistence, threat mitigation, psychological well-being
MeSH terms
Affect, Anxiety, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, HIV Infections, Uncertainty

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