Open AccessDealing with the COVID-19 infodemic
Author(s) -
Muhaimin Karim,
Rajesh Singh,
Gunilla Widén
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nordic journal of library and information studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2597-0593
DOI - 10.7146/njlis.v2i1.125220
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , exploratory research , information overload , pandemic , psychology , anxiety , perception , covid-19 , information seeking , young adult , qualitative research , social psychology , information behavior , negative information , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , political science , medicine , sociology , computer science , disease , social science , psychiatry , anthropology , law , pathology , neuroscience , library science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , human–computer interaction
This exploratory study seeks to understand information experiences, emotional reactions, and coping mechanisms of young adults concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. Studying two different populations, the Finnish sample included 49 young adults, while the US sample included 154. A qualitative content analysis approach was utilized in analyzing research findings. Respondents experienced a variety of emotions including negative, positive, and neutral emotions while searching for information about the COVID-19 crisis. Respondents utilized limited information consumption, selective information consumption, and information avoidance as their primary coping mechanisms to manage information overload, anxiety, uncertainty, and emotional well-being. Overall, the findings highlighted similarities in young people’s emotional reactions and coping mechanisms in managing the pandemic-related information in both countries. The study also revealed considerable differences in their perceptions about the role of media and politics in shaping how people consume and evaluate information.