Summary: Beliefs in pseudoscientific health ideas can undermine trust in conventional medicine and lead to riskier health decisions, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed over 1,500 participants and showed that stronger illusory beliefs were linked to higher use of unvalidated therapies and lower adherence to evidence-based practices.
However, valuing science and having a strong sense of personal health control reduced these risks. The findings highlight the need to improve health literacy and promote informed, evidence-based decisions.
Key Facts:
- Pseudoscience Risks: Stronger belief in pseudoscientific ideas correlates with distrust of medical professionals and riskier health behaviors.
- Protective Factors: Valuing science and personal health control mitigate these effects.
- Health Literacy Impact: Understanding these dynamics can improve informed health choices and reduce harm.
Source: BIAL Foundation
A study analysed the impact that illusory beliefs can have on our health behaviors and health practices.
The results revealed that the stronger the belief in pseudoscientific ideas, the greater the distrust in conventional medicine and the higher the tendency to seek unvalidated therapies, which can put health and well-being at risk.
Our beliefs about health often unconsciously shape the decisions we make daily. However, not all these beliefs are based on solid scientific foundations. Some, although well-intentioned, are illusory beliefs about health, i.e., misconceptions that can lead us away from effective practices and towards choices that can harm our health.
One example is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), whose practices can even provide well-being and relief, with harmless effects. However, the generalised rejection of approaches based on scientific evidence can pose serious health risks.
To understand how illusory health beliefs relate to the use of regular healthcare and the adoption of scientifically recommended behaviours, a team led by Andrew Denovan, with the support of the BIAL Foundation, carried out a study with 1507 participants using statistical models.
In the article “The relationship between illusory health beliefs, recommended health behaviours, and complementary and alternative medicine: An investigation across multiple time points”, published in May in the scientific journal Behavioral Sciences, the researchers from Liverpool John Moores University and Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) explain that they analysed adherence to recommended health behaviours (e.g. lifestyle, vaccinations) and trust in health professionals versus the use of CAM.
The findings revealed a clear pattern: the stronger the belief in pseudoscientific ideas, the greater the distrust of conventional medicine and the higher the tendency to seek unvalidated therapies. The study also revealed that certain factors can reduce or even suppress the intensity of this pattern.
This is the case with valuing science and the perception of personal control over health, the so-called internal locus of control, which is associated with more informed decisions, greater adherence to health recommendations, and trust in health professionals, as well as a critical attitude towards pseudoscientific practices.
“It’s important to bear in mind that while certain CAM approaches can offer complementary value, especially in contexts such as palliative care, rejecting conventional medicine based on scientific evidence can lead to serious consequences, such as vaccine hesitancy or the delayed important diagnoses”, emphasises Andrew Denovan.
“This was the first study to explore the predictive and mediating relationships between illusory health beliefs and health outcomes”, reveals the researcher, emphasising that “understanding these dynamics is a fundamental step towards strengthening health literacy and promoting truly informed choices”.
About this psychology and health research news
Author: Sandra Pinto
Source: BIAL Foundation
Contact: Sandra Pinto – BIAL Foundation
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“The Relationship Between Illusory Health Beliefs, Recommended Health Behaviours, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Investigation Across Multiple Time Points” by Andrew Denovan et al. Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
The Relationship Between Illusory Health Beliefs, Recommended Health Behaviours, and Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Investigation Across Multiple Time Points
Illusory health beliefs (IHBs) represent invalid ideations about health and potentially impact health behaviours and practices in meaningful ways.
Examples include the uptake of methods with less conclusive evidence/support (e.g., complementary and alternative medicine, CAM) versus empirically validated approaches (e.g., recommended by health professionals).
However, measurement obfuscation of IHB has hindered construct operationalisation.
This study examined a newly developed measure (the Illusory Health Beliefs Scale) in the context of health outcomes.
Specifically, we explored adherence to recommended health behaviours (e.g., lifestyle, vaccines) and trust in healthcare professionals versus CAM use.
Assessments included theoretically linked constructs, comprising health locus of control, belief in science, and belief in CAM. Using a sample of 1507 (734 males, 768 females, 7 non-binary), a statistical model tested relationships across time points.
Path analysis revealed that IHBs aligned with openness to unorthodox treatments alongside lower confidence in conventional treatment methods.
Crucially, locus of control and belief in science mediated/weakened this relationship, predicting greater adherence to health recommendations and trust in health professionals.
Belief in CAM strengthened the relationship between IHBs and CAM use.
The findings provide initial evidence regarding the contribution of IHBs to health outcomes, and a basis for future research to further explore the IHB-health relationship.
