COVID-19 Conspiracies, Trust in Authorities, and Duty to Comply with Social Distancing Restrictions

Abstract In 2020 governments worldwide implemented various laws and social distancing restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus. At same time, conspiracy theories emerged purporting that authorities were using pandemic permanently control or harm citizens. These conspiracies undermined government responses in some cases elicited civil disobedience. Using survey data from 779 Australians collected eight months into pandemic, we examined relationship between beliefs, trust government, duty comply with during pandemic. We also whether moderated association beliefs comply. found those prone theory who distrusted less likely negative comply; high served as a protective factor against beliefs. Importantly, how actions experienced perceived important correlates Australians’ level government. Our findings point importance maintaining their efficacy approach crisis.