Verschwörungsglaube in Zeiten multipler Krisen: Eine Analyse zu Einflussgrößen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung räumlicher Muster

The Covid-19 pandemic created several changes among individuals and societies. With respect to the corona-virus itself, the unprecedented spread of conspiracy theories, surrounding this, represents a particular noteworthy development that is being further explored with a specific focus on socio-spatial patterns across Austria. Using data of the third wave of the Values in Crisis Austria Survey (July 2022), we construct and validate a measure of conspiracy mentality that consists of three dimensions: (1) general conspiracy mentality, (2) Covid-19 specific conspiracy beliefs, and (3) vaccination-, covid- and containment measure skepticism. We use the concept of peripheri- zation in rural areas and link this to dynamics of political alienation and multiple crises experiences to explain variations in these beliefs. By using a sequential multiple regression design, we investigate, if regional differences remain observable once controlling for socio-demographic and attitudinal predictors. Here we find further effects between party preferences and perceptions of political disintegration and conspiracy beliefs, which potentially reflects the link between populism, science skepticism and institutional distrust more broadly.