Rumour type matters: The effect of different types of rumours on coping, subjective well-being, and interpersonal trust during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT

Rumours circulated quickly online and offline during the COVID-19 pandemic, but empirical research on the subject is limited. Combining qualitative (Study 1, content analysis was conducted on 2344 actual rumours extracted from a rumour-refuting website) and quantitative methods (Study 2, a three-wave study with 10-day intervals), the current study suggests that (1) rumours during the pandemic can be categorised into three types, that is, wish, dread, and aggression rumours, and (2) exposure to different types of rumours is associated with coping consequences, subjective well-being (comprising positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction), and interpersonal trust in different ways. Generally, wish rumours seem benign, while dread and aggression rumours are malicious. Specifically, wish rumours are believed to assist coping and to be positively associated with positive affect and interpersonal trust. In contrast, dread rumours are believed not to assist coping and to be marginally significantly and positively associated with negative affect and negatively associated with interpersonal trust. Meanwhile, aggression rumours are believed not to assist coping and are marginally significantly and positively associated with negative affect. All other relationships are nonsignificant. The results of the current study will help national governments and international agencies design and evaluate rumour control strategies and policies.