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Gender as a moderating variable in online misinformation acceptance during COVID-19
Ahmed Mansoori1, Khalaf Tahat1, Dina Tahat2
1Media & Creative Industries Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
Heliyon
|October 9, 2023
Summary
This study found entertainment, information-sharing, and seeking drive COVID-19 misinformation sharing. Comprehensibility influences misinformation acceptance among UAE university students, with gender not being a factor.
Area of Science:
- Health Communication
- Social Psychology
- Information Science
Background:
- COVID-19 misinformation fueled global public fear and unrest.
- Understanding factors influencing misinformation acceptance and sharing is crucial, particularly in diverse cultural contexts like the UAE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of altruism, entertainment, information-sharing, information-seeking, and comprehensibility on COVID-19 misinformation acceptance and sharing.
- To examine the moderating role of gender in these relationships within the UAE.
Main Methods:
- An online survey was administered to 200 university students in the UAE.
- Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed for data analysis.
Main Results:
- Entertainment, information-sharing, and information-seeking significantly impacted the sharing of COVID-19 misinformation.
- Comprehensibility was found to influence the acceptance of misinformation.
- Gender did not moderate the investigated factors.
Conclusions:
- Factors like entertainment and information-seeking behaviors contribute to the spread of health misinformation.
- Comprehensibility is key in accepting health misinformation.
- Future research should explore other potential moderators beyond gender, such as age, to understand misinformation dynamics.
- Promoting critical evaluation of online health information is essential for the general public.
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