The impact of COVID-19 misinformation and trust in institutions on preventive behaviors.

This article investigates how belief in COVID-19 misinformation influences engagement in preventive behaviors over time in a South Korean population, with a focus on the moderating role of trust in institutions. Using a two-wave longitudinal survey, the study found that initial belief in misinformation was associated with increased avoidance of preventive behaviors months later; however, this effect became non-significant after accounting for trust in institutions. Trust in institutions—measured by confidence in government, healthcare, and scientific bodies—was the strongest predictor of reduced avoidance of preventive behaviors. Notably, the study revealed that misinformation had a more pronounced negative impact on preventive behaviors among individuals with high institutional trust, suggesting that trust does not necessarily buffer against misinformation's effects. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining institutional trust while simultaneously addressing misinformation to effectively promote public health behaviors during pandemics.