Why cynics disengage: the nexus of political cynicism, misinformation, and online political participation

Political cynicism, characterized by distrust of public institutions and politicians, discourages political participation and raises concerns about the quality and legitimacy of democratic processes. This study explores the less-examined relationship between political cynicism and online political participation and investigates the role of belief in misinformation as a mediating factor. Additionally, it examines how these relationships are influenced by gender and partisanship (affiliation with ruling or non-ruling political parties). Utilizing survey data from India, the world's largest democracy, the study provides insights beyond the Western-centric focus of existing research. The findings reveal that political cynicism is associated with lower levels of online political participation, with belief in misinformation mediating this relationship. In other words, misinformation contributes to the political disengagement of cynical individuals. Moreover, this disengagement among cynics driven by misinformation is stronger among females compared to males, particularly those from political minority groups. These findings suggest that the intersection of gender, political identity, and exposure to misinformation creates unique barriers to participation for certain groups. The study underscores the complex interplay between political cynicism, misinformation, and online political participation, emphasizing the need for strategies to mitigate misinformation's impact on democratic engagement, especially for marginalized groups.