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Coronavirus Disease 2019-Related Stigma in China: A Descriptive Study

Li Zhao1, Zhen Wang1, Jian Guan1

  • 1Department of Social Psychology, Zhou Enlai School of Government, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.

Frontiers in Psychology
|August 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

This study quantifies COVID-19 stigma in China, revealing significant prejudice against recovered patients, their families, high-risk individuals, and healthcare workers. Greater COVID-19 knowledge generally reduces stigma, but not for those already stigmatizing others.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had profound global health impacts.
  • Most COVID-19 research focuses on medical aspects, neglecting social dimensions like stigma.
  • Quantitative data on COVID-19-related stigma in China is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and quantify the prevalence of COVID-19-related stigma among individuals in China.
  • To explore the relationship between COVID-19 knowledge and stigma.
  • To identify specific groups targeted by COVID-19 stigma.

Main Methods:

  • An online survey was conducted with 1,920 Chinese participants between October and December 2020.
  • Data on perceived stigma towards various groups (high-risk individuals, recovered patients, families, healthcare providers) were collected.
  • Knowledge about COVID-19 was assessed to determine its association with stigma.

Main Results:

  • Significant proportions of participants endorsed stigma: 15.94% towards high-risk areas, 14.84% towards recovered patients, 13.80% towards families of recovered patients, and 5.21% towards frontline healthcare providers.
  • General COVID-19 knowledge was negatively associated with overall stigma.
  • No significant association was found between COVID-19 knowledge and stigma among individuals already holding stigmatizing views.

Conclusions:

  • COVID-19-related stigma is prevalent in China, affecting recovered patients, their families, individuals in high-risk areas, and healthcare workers.
  • Public health interventions should address knowledge gaps and combat discriminatory attitudes to mitigate COVID-19 stigma.
  • Findings offer a quantitative basis for developing targeted anti-stigma strategies globally.

Keywords:
COVID-19Chinadescriptive studyknowledgestigma

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