Paranoid and Conspiracy Beliefs: The Role of Anxiety and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between paranoid and conspiracy beliefs and how these beliefs further relate to anxiety-trait, anxiety disorders, and satisfaction with life. The research involved 814 participants who were administered the Paranoia Scale, the Slovak Conspiracy Belief Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Satisfaction With Life Scale. The results showed that paranoid beliefs were associated with conspiracy beliefs, anxiety-trait, and life satisfaction. All of the variables together accounted for almost 40% of the variance of paranoid beliefs. Although conspiracy beliefs were associated with paranoia, the relationship with life satisfaction and anxiety-trait did not emerge as significant. The results of this study point out the importance of further exploration of paranoid and conspiracy beliefs, especially in times of coronavirus pandemic, when the harmful effects of such beliefs are even more salient.