Shahid Beheshti University Applied Psychology 2008-4331 19 2 2025 08 09 Belief in a Dangerous World and Emotions During COVID-19 Pandemic: the Mediating Role of Conspiracy Beliefs and Trust In Authority Belief in a Dangerous World and Emotions During COVID-19 Pandemic: the Mediating Role of Conspiracy Beliefs and Trust In Authority 9 33 104100 10.48308/apsy.2023.232763.1528 FA Pegah Nejat Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0003-1410-9720 Ahmad Asgarizadeh Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0001-8431-0548 Maryam Vafaei Sefti Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran 0009-0005-7493-8290 Sareh Rezazadeh Mirsadeghi Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran 0009-0007-3245-1577 Journal Article Aim: Belief in a dangerous world (BDW) is a chronic belief that the world is threatening. This study aimed to test the role of this belief in shaping emotional experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, as mediated by conspiracy beliefs and trust in the COVID-19 management committee. Method: Participants in this correlational study were 431 individuals (71% female; mean age = 33.7 years) who completed the BDW scale, COVID-19 conspiracy belief scale, trust in the COVID-19 management committee, and measures of positive and negative emotions. Structural equation modeling was used to test the mediating effects. Results: Cronbach’s alpha for the BDW scale was satisfactory (.80). Item 9 was excluded due to low factor loading. BDW negatively predicted positive emotions and positively predicted negative emotions (p < .05). Conspiracy beliefs and trust in authority significantly mediated the relationship between BDW and negative emotions but not positive emotions. Conclusion: The findings supported the role of BDW in shaping perceptions and emotions during the pandemic. The stronger prediction of negative emotions highlights the influence of different psychological mechanisms. Aim: Belief in a dangerous world (BDW) is a chronic belief that the world is threatening. This study aimed to test the role of this belief in shaping emotional experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, as mediated by conspiracy beliefs and trust in the COVID-19 management committee. Method: Participants in this correlational study were 431 individuals (71% female; mean age = 33.7 years) who completed the BDW scale, COVID-19 conspiracy belief scale, trust in the COVID-19 management committee, and measures of positive and negative emotions. Structural equation modeling was used to test the mediating effects. Results: Cronbach’s alpha for the BDW scale was satisfactory (.80). Item 9 was excluded due to low factor loading. BDW negatively predicted positive emotions and positively predicted negative emotions (p < .05). Conspiracy beliefs and trust in authority significantly mediated the relationship between BDW and negative emotions but not positive emotions. Conclusion: The findings supported the role of BDW in shaping perceptions and emotions during the pandemic. The stronger prediction of negative emotions highlights the influence of different psychological mechanisms.

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