The effect of trust in media and information sources on coronavirus disease 2019 prevention behaviors in Lebanon

Abstract

The study examines the effect of trust in media and information sources about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on adopting prevention measures, and whether fear and perceived knowledge mediate this relationship. It focuses on Lebanon during a period of political and economic crises and prevalent public distrust in government and the media. Through a cross-sectional survey and a nationally representative probability sample, data collection from 1536 participants took place between March 27 and April 23, 2020. The findings establish a direct relationship between trust and adopting prevention measures, but only partial mediation of fear and perceived knowledge. This suggests that media trust has a strong independent effect on prevention measures and is only partially mediated by fear and to a lesser extent by perceived knowledge. These findings highlight the importance of trust in media, government, and public health information sources, even during chaotic economic and political circumstances common in the Global South.