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The Korean Society for Journalism & Communication Studies (KSJCS)
[ Article ]
Korean Journal of Journalism & Communication Studies - Vol. 68, No. 4, pp.5-30
ISSN: 2586-7369 (Online)
Print publication date 31 Aug 2024
Received 01 Jun 2024 Accepted 30 Jul 2024 Revised 31 Jul 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20879/kjjcs.2024.68.4.001

팬데믹 기간 코로나19 관련 허위정보는 어떻게 건강을 위협하는가? : 패널데이터 분석결과를 중심으로

장경은*** ; 백영민****
***연세대학교 커뮤니케이션연구소 전문연구원 katejjang@gmail.com
****연세대학교 언론홍보영상학부 교수 ymbaek@yonsei.ac.kr
How Does COVID-19 Misinformation Endanger Public Health During the Pandemic? : Insights from Panel Data Analysis
Kyungeun Jang*** ; Young Min Baek****
***Researcher, Institute for Communication Research, Yonsei University katejjang@gmail.com
****Professor, Department of Communication, Yonsei University ymbaek@yonsei.ac.kr

초록

본 연구는 한국의 코로나19 팬데믹 맥락에서 유통된 허위정보에 대한 신뢰가 백신효능성 및 방역수칙 준수 인식을 통해 코로나19 감염가능성에 영향을 미치는 매개효과를 검증하였다. 2022년에 수집한 반복측정 패널 데이터(N = 516)를 분석한 결과, 총 14종에 달하는 허위정보에 대한 전반적인 신뢰 수준이 높아질수록 백신효능성을 부정적으로 인식하고 방역수칙 준수 수준이 감소하는 양상이 발견되었다. 또한, 백신효능성 인식 및 방역수칙 준수 수준이 낮을수록 감염가능성은 높아지는 관계가 나타났다. 허위정보 신뢰와 감염가능성의 관계는 백신효능성 인식과 방역수칙 준수를 통해 나타나는 매개효과가 발견되었다. 공중보건 위기상황에서 허위정보에 대한 신뢰가 발생시키는 효과에 대한 이론적, 실무적 함의점을 논의하였다.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a dual crisis worldwide, caused not only by the virus but also by the rapid spread of misinformation. The present study investigates the impact of misinformation on public health by examining how trust in COVID-19-related misinformation affects perceptions of vaccine efficacy, adherence to preventative measures, and ultimately, the likelihood of infection in South Korea. In the pandemic context, a volume of research has shown that trust in misinformation (e.g., COVID-19 is intentionally spread, death tolls are exaggerated, or vaccines are ineffective) contributes to psychological distress, decreased adherence to prevention measures, and increased health risks. Despite extensive research on the detrimental consequences of misinformation during the pandemic, there has been limited investigation on how misinformation influences the likelihood of infection. The present study aims to fill this gap by exploring the indirect effects of trust in COVID-19-related misinformation on the likelihood of infection via perceived vaccine efficacy and adherence to preventative measures.

The theoretical framework for the present research is based on the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), which posits that effective risk communication increases both perceived threat and efficacy, promoting preventive behavior. In contrast, misinformation hinders factual perceptions of risk and response efficacy, leading to ineffective threat management and decreased adherence to prevention measures. Specifically, the present study hypothesizes that higher trust in COVID-19-related misinformation leads to lower perceived vaccine efficacy, reduced adherence to preventive measures, and increased likelihood of COVID-19 infection. Additionally, the present study posits the relationship between trust in COVID-19-related misinformation and the likelihood of infection is mediated by perceived vaccine efficacy and adherence to prevention measures.

Analyzing longitudinal panel survey data collected in 2022 (N = 516), this study found individuals with higher trust in COVID-19-related misinformation were more likely to deny the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and less likely to adhere to COVID-19 prevention measures, which resulted in an increased likelihood of COVID-19 infection. Bootstrapping tests confirmed that the indirect effects of misinformation trust on the likelihood of COVID-19 infection via perceived vaccine efficacy and adherence to prevention measures were statistically significant. The findings of the present study clearly demonstrate the negative consequences of misinformation on individual and public health outcomes, thereby highlighting the importance of combating misinformation to enhance public health responses. In particular, the present study proposes two approaches to managing misinformation in the pandemic context: (1) developing individuals' ability to critically digest information, and (2) limiting the environment in which misinformation is transmitted. These implications for both academic research and practical interventions will contribute to enhancing public health resilience against misinformation during public health crises.

Keywords:

COVID-19, Misinformation, Perceived Vaccine Efficacy, Adherence to Prevention Measures, COVID-19 Infection

키워드:

코로나19, 허위정보, 백신효능, 방역수칙준수, 코로나19 바이러스 감염

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea(이 논문은 2021년 대한민국 교육부와 한국연구재단의 지원을 받아 수행된 연구입니다)[NRF2021S1A3A2A02090597].

e would like to thank three reviewers for their thoughtful comments and efforts towards improving our manuscript(논문심사 과정에서 유익한 조언을 해주신 세 분의 심사위원님들께 감사드립니다).

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