From reflective functioning to conspiracy thinking in the COVID-19 pandemic: Direct and indirect pathways

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The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge of conspiracy theories that are used to explain this health crisis. Belief in these theories in turn has significant implications regarding adherence to scientifically based health measures and the seeking of appropriate medical treatment. However, the precursors of conspiracy thinking have not yet been fully understood. The current study investigated the direct and indirect effect of reflective functioning on conspiracy thinking through the role of generalized perceived threat of the virus, positive and negative emotions, trust in scientists, and trust in God in a sample of 1,730 adults in Greece. The results indicate that enhanced capacity for reflective functioning is associated with less likelihood of conspiracy theory endorsement. Higher levels of reflective functioning were associated with increased negative emotionality, lower levels of generalized perceived threat, greater trust in scientists, and less trust in God. Reflective functioning in and of itself did not predict conspiracy theory endorsement directly. Rather, this relationship was fully mediated by negative emotionality, generalized perceived threat, and higher levels of trust in scientists. These findings support recently proposed positions indicating that reflective functioning has a significant role in the framework of the COVID-19 pandemic.