Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

Publisher

Taylor & Francis (Routledge)

Source Publication

Journal of Public Relations Research

Source ISSN

1062-726X

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1080/1062726X.2024.2333549

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore how strategic internal communication and the quality of employee – organization relationship (EOR) can reduce organizational conspiracy beliefs among employees and thus prevent the negative outcomes thereof in the workplace. Using a national survey (N = 810) of full-time employees in the United States, this study found that high-quality EOR based on two-way symmetrical communication with employees is likely to reduce the potential for conspiracy theories and, in turn, for turnover intentions in the workplace. This finding provides meaningful insight into how internal communication managers can mitigate negative employee outcomes that are closely associated with organizational conspiracy theories in the workplace, namely by practicing strategic internal communication and developing high-quality EOR. This study theoretically advances conspiracy theory research by offering a theoretical explanation for belief systems of conspiracy theories that also considers strategic internal communication and the quality of EOR.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Public Relations Research, Vol. 36, No. 5 (2024): 361-387. DOI. © 2024 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Used with permission.

Available for download on Friday, July 31, 2026

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