Highlighting COVID-19 Racial Disparities Can Reduce Support for Safety Precautions Among White U.S. Residents

Skinner-Dorkenoo, Allison Louise; Sarmal, Apoorva; Rogbeer, Kasheena G.; Andre, Chloe; Patel, Bhumi; Cha, Leah

doi:10.31219/osf.io/td4cs

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Emerging research in a related area has found that merely informing members of dominant racial or ethnic groups (Whites) of racial disparities in COVID-19 infections and deaths has the potential to exacerbate, rather than reduce, such inequalities (Skinner-Dorkenoo et al, 2022). Such research suggests that making dominant-group members aware of racial bias and prejudice related to COVID-19 can reduce fear of a common threat as well as empathy—allowing COVID-19 to be perceived as a problem for out-groups yet not for the self or in-group.…”

Section: Future Directions and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pride-and-Prejudice Perspectives of Marginalization Can Advance Science and Society

Brannon

2022

Curr Dir Psychol Sci

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Research that conceptualizes marginalization as tied to both pride and prejudice—or as simultaneously a source of strengths and stigma—is especially well positioned to address social problems in ways that can fuel progress for science and society. This review integrates insights from current research to highlight that leveraging pride-and-prejudice perspectives of marginalization can spark meaningful advancement toward mitigating social inequalities. Specifically, focusing on marginalization associated with race-ethnicity, social class, refugee status, and gender identity and sexual orientation, it highlights burgeoning research that harnesses pride-and-prejudice perspectives to advance psychological theory and application linked to (a) inclusion among marginalized groups and (b) intergroup attitudes among more dominant or privileged groups. The review concludes with a discussion of implications for future research and policy directions that can foster inclusion and facilitate positive intergroup attitudes amidst challenges tied to a racial reckoning (e.g., resource or economic scarcity, backlash to diversity and multiculturalism).

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Section: Future Directions and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pride-and-Prejudice Perspectives of Marginalization Can Advance Science and Society

Brannon

2022

Curr Dir Psychol Sci

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“…The latter approach may clarify a point that is not addressed in our analysis: although awareness separation may reduce disparities in severe disease-linked outcomes, this phenomenon is not necessarily equitable or desirable. In fact, if self-protection is associated with significant costs, already-vulnerable populations may suffer compounding costs as they balance self-protection against significant disease risk without adequate support from a broader community that does not share their risks (Atchison et al, 2021; Barrett et al, 2011; Jay et al, 2020; Skinner-Dorkenoo et al, 2022). Further, structural inequities often leave population subgroups that are vulnerable to larger, more severe outbreaks with reduced access to protective measures like health education, treatment, vaccination, and paid leave (Cardona et al, 2021; Christensen et al, 2020; Clouston et al, 2015; Dryhurst et al, 2020; Heymann et al, 2021; Poteat et al, 2020; Ridenhour et al, 2022; Simione & Gnagnarella, 2020; Williams & Cooper, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social divisions and risk perception drive divergent epidemics and large later waves

2023

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During infectious disease outbreaks, individuals may adopt protective measures like vaccination and physical distancing in response to awareness of disease burden. Prior work showed how feedbacks between epidemic intensity and awareness-based behavior shapes disease dynamics. These models often overlook social divisions, where population subgroups may be disproportionately impacted by a disease and more responsive to the effects of disease within their group. We develop a compartmental model of disease transmission and awareness-based protective behavior in a population split into two groups to explore the impacts of awareness separation (relatively greater in- versus out-group awareness of epidemic severity) and mixing separation (relatively greater in- versus out-group contact rates). Using simulations, we show that groups that are more separated in awareness have smaller differences in mortality. Fatigue (i.e., abandonment of protective measures over time) can drive additional infection waves that can even exceed the size of the initial wave, particularly if uniform awareness drives early protection in one group, leaving that group largely susceptible to future infection. Counterintuitively, vaccine or infection-acquired immunity that is more protective against transmission and mortality may indirectly lead to more infections by reducing perceived risk of infection and therefore vaccine uptake. Awareness-based protective behavior, including awareness separation, can fundamentally alter disease dynamics.

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“…67,68 A growing body of work suggests that knowledge of these inequities may result in increasing support for protective measures among those directly impacted by structural racism and other systems of oppression while simultaneously decreasing support among systematically advantaged groups whose relative position largely insulates them from COVID-19 harms. [67][68][69] In several studies and polls, Black and Latinx parents were less likely to have confidence that schools could reopen safely without additional protections and more likely to support school masking requirements. 67,68,70,71 In contrast, when randomized to receive information about pervasive racial/ethnic COVID-19 inequities, white individuals were less likely to report concern about COVID-19, empathy for those vulnerable to COVID-19, and less likely to support COVID-19 prevention policies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…67,68,70,71 In contrast, when randomized to receive information about pervasive racial/ethnic COVID-19 inequities, white individuals were less likely to report concern about COVID-19, empathy for those vulnerable to COVID-19, and less likely to support COVID-19 prevention policies. 69 Given vastly unequal environmental conditions shaping COVID-19 risk, universal school masking policies are an important measure for mitigating the impacts of structural racism and may be especially important in settings where other preventive measures such as upgraded ventilation/filtration may be more resource-and time-intensive to implement. School districts and policymakers should consider these inequitable impacts when making plans about masking policies for the upcoming school year.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Lifting School Masking Requirements on Incidence of COVID-19 among Staff and Students in Greater-Boston Area School Districts: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis

Cowger

Clarke

Murray

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background. In February 2022, following the rescinding of a Massachusetts statewide school masking mandate, only two cities (Boston and neighboring Chelsea) out of 79 school districts in the greater-Boston area, maintained masking requirements in K-12 schools. This provided an opportunity to examine the impact of removing masking on COVID-19 case rates among students and staff in the public-school setting. Methods. We used difference-in-differences for staggered policy adoption to compare incidence of COVID-19 cases among students and staff in greater-Boston area school districts that lifted masking requirements to those that had not yet lifted masking requirements during the 2021-2022 school year. Results. Before the statewide school masking policy was lifted, there was no statistically significant difference in case rate trajectories between school districts. However, weekly and cumulative case rates were significantly higher in students and staff in school districts that removed masking requirements, compared to districts that had not yet lifted requirements. We estimate that lifting of school masking requirements was associated with an additional 44.9 (95% CI: 32.6, 57.1) COVID-19 cases per 1,000 students and staff over the 15 weeks since the lifting of the statewide school masking requirement, representing nearly 30% of all cases observed in schools during that time. School districts that sustained masking requirements for longer periods tended to have older school buildings in poorer condition, more crowded classrooms, higher proportion of low income and English learning students and students with disabilities, and a higher proportion of Black and Latinx students and staff. Conclusions. Masking is a relatively low-cost but effective intervention that can protect students and staff from substantial illness and loss of in-person days in school. Despite compelling evidence that masking significantly reduces the spread of SARS-CoV-2, political will and public adherence to masking has waned. Our study confirms that universal masking requirements can benefit all students and staff, and therefore represents an important strategy to mitigate the impacts of structural racism, ensure health equity, and to avoid potential deepening of educational inequities.

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Highlighting COVID-19 Racial Disparities Can Reduce Support for Safety Precautions Among White U.S. Residents

Cited by 5 publications

References 31 publications

Pride-and-Prejudice Perspectives of Marginalization Can Advance Science and Society

Pride-and-Prejudice Perspectives of Marginalization Can Advance Science and Society

Social divisions and risk perception drive divergent epidemics and large later waves

Impact of Lifting School Masking Requirements on Incidence of COVID-19 among Staff and Students in Greater-Boston Area School Districts: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis

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