Unexpected public health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey examining anti-Asian attitudes in the USA

Abstract

Objectives This paper empirically examines whether and how COVID-19 may be activating bias and discrimination toward individuals of Asian descent. Methods In March 2020, we used a national online survey to collect data from 1141 US residents. Using descriptive statistics and multivariate regression, we estimated the prevalence and COVID-19-related predictors of bias toward people of Asian descent. Results We found over 40% of our sample reported they would engage in at least one discriminatory behavior toward people of Asian descent. Respondents who were fearful of COVID-19 ( b = .09, p < 0.001) and had less accurate knowledge about the virus ( b = − .07, p < 0.001) reported more negative attitudes toward Asians as did respondents with less trust in science ( b = − .06, p < 0.001) and more trust in President Trump ( b = .04, p < 0.001). Conclusions Public health leaders must confront fear of the virus, improve knowledge, and bolster trust in science as these factors may evoke negative attitudes toward Asians and increase prejudice and discrimination. Specifically, our findings warrant the adoption of public health campaigns that provide health information and build trust in scientific knowledge.

Communicative Blame in Online Communication of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Computational Approach of Stigmatizing Cues and Negative Sentiment Gauged With Automated Analytic Techniques

“…The WHO and global medical authorities have agreed to veer away from naming illnesses after places or groups of people because using such names could lead to collective perceptual bias, stigma, and inaccurate assumptions [ 5 ]. However, consistent with previous studies (eg, [ 7 , 8 ]), the adoption of the problematic moniker “Wuhan pneumonia” had a high frequency of collective production and consumption. Our data also showed the high association of COVID-19 with China and a specific city within China through references like “Wuhan pneumonia,” potentially encouraging xenophobia.…”

Intergroup Contact, COVID-19 News Consumption, and the Moderating Role of Digital Media Trust on Prejudice Toward Asians in the United States: Cross-Sectional Study (Preprint)

“…Drawing from the behavioral immune system theory, intergroup relations, and media psychology literature, this study is a novel attempt to investigate the joint mechanisms of direct intergroup contact and mediated contact offered by diverse news sources on associating with prejudicial attitudes toward Asians during the COVID-19 outbreak. In accordance with previous studies [1][2][3][4][5]7,[9][10][11][12][13]24,26], participants who subscribed to conservative beliefs, had personal COVID-19 infection history, and interacted with Asian people frequently in their daily lives reported more negative attitudes toward Asians after controlling for sociodemographic variables. It might be plausible that people with conservative beliefs are more wary of China's influence, making them more likely to blame visible targets with Asian-looking features during the pandemic.…”

“…Indeed, reports of anti-Asian racial incidents and hate crimes in the United States reached over 2000 since the term "Chinse virus" was used [6]. A national survey collected in March 2020 found 42% of US residents were likely to engage in discriminatory behaviors toward Asians because of their fear of the virus [7]. Relatedly, the Pew Research Center documented that 40% of Americans believed racial bias against Asians was more common than it was before the outbreak, and 31% of Asian Americans have experienced slurs or racist jokes since the pandemic [8].…”

Communicative Blame in Online Communication of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Computational Approach of Stigmatizing Cues and Negative Sentiment Gauged With Automated Analytic Techniques (Preprint)

“…Online news is a hotbed of negativity and drives negative sentiment and blame in other media. The stigmatizing terms were clearly deemed offensive, and they might have contributed to recent backlashes against China and Chinese people by encouraging and directing blame [6][7][8]. Understanding the nomenclature and biased terms employed in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak is paramount while considering the online public's responses and feelings around making biased judgments.…”

“…Social stigma in the context of a disease outbreak comes from an impulse to assign blame; hence, abundant research has acknowledged the social stigma and the subsequent blame and discrimination attached to COVID-19 (eg, [6][7][8]). The lack of a clear understanding about social stigma regarding the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to the circulation of false blame and negative bias, which jeopardizes the public's psychosocial development and well-being.…”