Public Opinion on the War in Ukraine: A Cross-Sectional Study of Public Attention, War Anxiety, Susceptibility to Disinformation and Anti-refugee Attitudes

This study investigates the impact of the Ukraine war on Polish public opinion, focusing on four main areas: public attention to the war, war anxiety, susceptibility to disinformation, and anti-refugee attitudes. Utilising a cross-sectional survey of over 10,000 respondents, the research analyses how these factors have evolved during the conflict through the lens of cognitive dissonance theory. Our results highlight the dynamic nature of public sentiment, the influence of disinformation campaigns, and the complex attitudes towards refugees within Poland. The findings offer valuable insights, emphasising the importance of addressing disinformation and fostering social cohesion amidst crises. Additionally, we are empirically verifying expectations based on cognitive dissonance theory, showing that this framework could be valuable for analysing public opinion during times of crisis and that it meets most empirical expectations.