Personal attitudes and denialist views about the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: a national survey
- Antonella Sisto Clinical Psychological Service, Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital Foundation, Rome, Italy.
- Livia Quintiliani Clinical Psychological Service, Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital Foundation, Rome, Italy.
- Flavia Vicinanza Clinical Psychological Service, Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital Foundation, Rome, Italy.
- Silvia Fabris DG Animal Health and Veterinary Medicinal Products National Crisis Management Centre - Animal Health, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy.
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Laura Leondina Campanozzi
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l.campanozzi@unicampus.it
Research Unit of Bioethics and Humanities, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
- Giuseppe Curcio Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Science, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy.
- Mirta Michilli Fondazione Mondo Digitale, Rome, Italy.
- Alfonso Molina Fondazione Mondo Digitale, Rome, Italy.
- Giampaolo Ghilardi Research Unit of Bioethics and Humanities, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
- Andrea Manazza SS Cure Palliative, ASL, T04, Chivasso, Turin, Italy.
- Gaetano Lauri Pancreatobiliary Endoscopy and Endosonography Division, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
- Rocco Gentile Lucanian Bioethics Center, Potenza, Italy.
- Antonio Perciaccante Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, Department of Medicine, “San Giovanni di Dio” Hospital, Gorizia, Italy.
- Francesco De Micco Research Unit of Bioethics and Humanities, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
- Luca Navarini Unit of Allergology, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital Foundation, Rome, Italy.
- Lourdes Velázquez Interdisciplinary Bioethics Center, Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City, Mexico.
- Mario Picozzi Center for Clinical Ethics, Insubria University, Varese, Italy.
- Giovanna Ricci Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
- Flora Piacquadio Liceo delle Scienze Umane, Linguistico ed Economico sociale “Domenico Pace”, Guglionesi, Campobasso, Italy.
- Melissa Maioni Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, Rome, Italy.
- Fabio Ermili General Surgery, “San Giovanni Battista Hospital”, AUSL Umbria 2, Foligno, Perugia, Italy.
- Mario Tambone Area Medica COVID, U.O.C di Medicina del P.O. Civico di Partinico, Partinico, Palermo, Italy.
- Gian Luca Chelucci Unit of Respiratory Pathophysiology, Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
- Massimo Ciccozzi Research Unit of Medical Statistic and Epidemiology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
- Vittoradolfo Tambone Research Unit of Bioethics and Humanities, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
Since COVID-19 began to spread, hypotheses about the possible causes of the disease and its treatment have increased worldwide, engenedering fears and concerns. This context of uncertainty, as well as the great changes that people were forced to accept in their daily lives, have challenged the general population, affecting public opinion and collective imagination inevitably, with also a negative impact on compliance with public health policies. This study explored the personal attitudes towards the COVID-19 pandemic and their association with denial stances in the Italian context. The aim was to address the relevance of these phenomena and in what guise they are present in relation to the grounds supporting them, as an avenue to be more effective in public health under different domains. An online questionnaires was set out to survey the general population over 18 throughout the Italian country, including students and health professionals, to offer geographic and professional diversity. General population was also stratified based on their direct or indirect experience of COVID-19, whilst health participants were recruited with regard to their involvement in a COVID centre. A total of 2110 questionnaire were filled out between December 2020 and April 2021. Of the participants, 85.45% completely disagree with the possibility that COVID-19 is not real and that the cultural, social and economic system wanted us to believe otherwise, whereas 69% had doubts about what has been claimed to date about the existence of COVID-19. Trust in institutions and types of COVID-19 experience affected these beliefs. The results also show that stress, anxiety, sadness, and vulnerability increased as compared to the pre-COVID- 19 pandemic timeframe. The fundings of this national survey revealed how much behaviors based on social responsibility and rational prudence are important for defensing human life.
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