Science may be failing to convince a significant number of people about COVID-19 scientific facts and needed public health measures. Individual and social factors are behind believing conspiracy theories. Adults (N = 1001) were asked to rate their beliefs in various conspiracy theories circulating in social media, rate their psychological distress relating to COVID-19, rate their trust in science to solve COVID-19 problems, and rate their willingness to adhere to measures regarding social distancing and quarantine. The findings showed conspiracy theories are widely believed and related to lower age, lower education, living in less densely populated areas, and lower income. Stronger conspiracy theory beliefs predicted science mistrust and unwillingness to adhere to public health measures. Psychological state was a strong predictor of conspiracy beliefs. Recommendations, stemming from the findings, for reducing such beliefs and better serving public health are discussed.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 科学事实与阴谋论：科学未能传递信息吗？

科学可能无法让很多人相信 COVID-19 的科学事实和所需的公共卫生措施。相信阴谋论的背后是个人和社会因素。成年人（N = 1001）被要求评价他们对社交媒体中流传的各种阴谋论的信念，评价他们与 COVID-19 相关的心理困扰，评价他们对解决 COVID-19 问题的科学的信任，并评价他们坚持的意愿有关社会疏远和检疫的措施。调查结果表明，阴谋论被广泛相信，并且与年龄较低、教育程度较低、居住在人口密度较低的地区和收入较低有关。更强的阴谋论信念预示着科学不信任和不愿意遵守公共卫生措施。心理状态是阴谋信念的有力预测因素。讨论了根据调查结果提出的减少此类信念和更好地为公共卫生服务的建议。