Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between the use of China related names for COVID-19, a variety of COVID-19 information sources, and endorsement of conspiracy theory variables in the U.S. One hundred thirty-nine undergraduate students participated in an online survey in the U.S. Results indicated that the use of friends and families on social media and online, or former U.S. president Trump as a source of COVID-19 related information were the most important predictors of the level of endorsement of Chinese related conspiracy theory variables. Further, outgroup trust moderated the relationship between the use of Chinese related names for COVID-19 and endorsement of China related conspiracy theories.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Kikuko Omori
Kikuko Omori ([email protected]) is in the Communications Studies Department, at California State University – Sacramento, California.
Carmen Stitt
Carmen Stitt ([email protected]) is in the Communications Studies Department, at California State University – Sacramento, California.