J 2025

Conspiracy Narratives About the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Origins of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus: A Contribution to Polish-Czech Comparative Research

MARCINKOWSKI, Tomasz; Juliusz SIKORSKI and Lukáš VOMLELA

Basic information

Original name

Conspiracy Narratives About the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Origins of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus: A Contribution to Polish-Czech Comparative Research

Authors

MARCINKOWSKI, Tomasz; Juliusz SIKORSKI and Lukáš VOMLELA

Edition

Politeja, Krakow, Księgarnia Akademicka Sp. z o.o.,Uniwersytet Jagielloński, 2025, 1733-6716

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Field of Study

50601 Political science

Country of publisher

Poland

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

Organization unit

Faculty of Public Policies in Opava

Keywords in English

COVID-19 pandemic; infodemic; conspiracy theories; vaccinations; Czechia; Poland; health policy

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Changed: 21/10/2025 11:21, Mgr. Lukáš Vomlela, Ph.D.

Abstract

In the original language

This article presents the results of a comparative research study on belief in COVID-19-related conspiracy theories among social science students in Poland and the Czech Republic. The study investigates the relationship between sus-ceptibility to disinformation and factors such as religiosity, trust in science, and the evaluation of institutional responses to the pandemic. Using a quantitative approach (CAPI survey), the authors identify notable differences between the two national groups, with Polish students showing a greater inclination toward conspiracy narratives. The article also explores correlations between such beliefs and negative assessments of the EU’s actions. The findings highlight the role of cultural context and psychological predispositions in shaping attitudes toward health-related misinformation, underlining the need for further research into the social and political consequences of the infodemic. The study contributes to political science by linking disinformation susceptibility with systemic trust and civic attitudes in Central Europe.