Assessing Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Prevention: Defining Two Attitudes Crucial for Understanding Systemic and Social...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities Research
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Health disparities are influenced by systemic and social factors, including discrimination and healthcare access.
• Adherence to public health recommendations is crucial for disease prevention, yet understanding individual attitudes is key.
• Previous research identified perceived benefit and burden as critical attitudes influencing medical adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test a conceptual model of attitudes toward COVID-19 prevention recommendations.
• To examine the relationship between perceived benefit and burden attitudes and health disparity-related variables.
• To assess the measurement invariance of these attitudes across racial groups.

Main Methods:

• Online survey administered to a sample of Black and White individuals in the USA (N=194).
• Psychometric analysis to validate scales for perceived benefit and burden attitudes.
• Correlation analyses to investigate associations with neighborhood violence, healthcare access, and healthcare experiences.

Main Results:

• Perceived benefit and burden attitudes were distinct, valid, and invariant across racial groups.
• These attitudes were significantly associated with neighborhood violence, healthcare access, and healthcare experiences.
• Associations remained significant after controlling for subjective stress and political affiliation.

Conclusions:

• Attitudes toward COVID-19 prevention recommendations are measurable and linked to social determinants of health.
• Findings offer insights for improving compliance with public health guidance and reducing health disparities.
• Targeting perceived benefit and burden may be a strategy to address inequities in health outcomes.