Conspiratorial Beliefs and Well‐Being: How Cognitive Worldviews Shape Self‐Evaluation, Meaning, and Life Satisfaction Over Time

Denovan, A ORCID: 0000-0002-9082-7225, Hughes, Z ORCID: 0000-0001-5383-4584, Powell, D ORCID: 0000-0002-9690-8536 and Dagnall, N ORCID: 0000-0003-0657-7604 (2026) Conspiratorial Beliefs and Well‐Being: How Cognitive Worldviews Shape Self‐Evaluation, Meaning, and Life Satisfaction Over Time. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 40 (3). ISSN 0888-4080

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Abstract

Conspiratorial ideation is associated with pessimism, ontological insecurity, and perceived institutional betrayal—cognitive worldviews linked to threat-focused information processing, lower self-esteem, reduced meaning in life, and poorer well-being. However, cross-sectional research limits understanding of the temporal dynamics among these variables. This four-wave study examined whether conspiratorial ideation predicts life satisfaction over time, directly and indirectly via outlook, self-esteem, and meaning in life, in a UK adult sample (N = 615). Path analyses showed that conspiratorial ideation predicted higher pessimism, decreased self-esteem, and lower subsequent life satisfaction. Sequential mediation indicated that negative self-esteem and search for meaning mediated the relationship between conspiratorial ideation and declining life satisfaction. Conversely, presence of meaning was positively affiliated with life satisfaction, suggesting that perceived purpose may buffer some negative effects of conspiratorial thinking. These findings identify cognitive–affective pathways through which conspiratorial belief systems shape well-being over time.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1505 Marketing; 1701 Psychology; 1702 Cognitive Sciences; Experimental Psychology; 3904 Specialist studies in education; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology; 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	7 May 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	26 May 2026
Date Deposited:	26 May 2026 09:03
Last Modified:	26 May 2026 09:03
DOI or ID number:	10.1002/acp.70222
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28632

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