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Why public health framing matters: An experimental study of the effects of COVID-19 framing on prejudice and xenophobia in the United States

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  • Dhanani, Lindsay Y.
  • Franz, Berkeley

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a notable increase in the expression of prejudicial and xenophobic attitudes that threaten the wellbeing of minority groups and contribute to the overall public health toll of the virus. However, while there is evidence documenting the growth in discrimination and xenophobia, little is known about how the COVID-19 outbreak is activating the expression of such negative attitudes. The goal of the current paper therefore was to investigate what aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic may be contributing to this rise in expressions of prejudice and xenophobia. More specifically, this study used an experimental design to assess the effects of using stigmatized language to describe the virus as well as the threat to physical health and economic wellbeing posed by the virus on COVID-19 prejudice. Data were collected from a national sample of 1451 adults residing within the United States. Results from 2 × 2 x 2 between-subjects analyses of covariance demonstrated that emphasizing the connection between China and COVID-19, rather than framing the virus neutrally, increased negative attitudes toward Asian Americans, beliefs that resources should be prioritized for Americans rather than immigrants, and general xenophobia. Emphasizing the severity of the economic impact of the virus also increased beliefs that Asian Americans are a threat to resources and general xenophobia. In contrast, messages which emphasized the serious health risks of COVID-19 did not increase bias toward Asian Americans or xenophobia. Our findings suggest that specific types of public health messaging related to infectious diseases, especially framing the virus in terms of its country of origin or its likely economic impact, may elicit prejudice and xenophobia. Public health campaigns that emphasize the severity of the virus, however, are not likely to trigger the same negative attitudes. Implications for public health responses to health crises are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Dhanani, Lindsay Y. & Franz, Berkeley, 2021. "Why public health framing matters: An experimental study of the effects of COVID-19 framing on prejudice and xenophobia in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:269:y:2021:i:c:s0277953620307917
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113572
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Feagin, Joe & Bennefield, Zinobia, 2014. "Systemic racism and U.S. health care," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 7-14.
    2. Hopkins, Daniel J., 2010. "Politicized Places: Explaining Where and When Immigrants Provoke Local Opposition," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 104(1), pages 40-60, February.
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Chris Sampson’s journal round-up for 25th January 2021
      by Chris Sampson in The Academic Health Economists' Blog on 2021-01-25 12:01:17

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    1. Yoo, Nari & Jang, Sou Hyun, 2024. "Does social empathy moderate fear-induced minority blaming during the COVID-19 pandemic?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    2. Singh, Renu, 2023. "Priming COVID-19's consequences can increase support for investments in public health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    3. Yoshiaki Kubo & Isamu Okada, 2022. "COVID-19 health certification reduces outgroup bias: evidence from a conjoint experiment in Japan," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Andrea M. Tilstra & Antonino Polizzi & Sander Wagner & Evelina T. Akimova, 2024. "Projecting the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. population structure," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Hung, Shih-Chang & Chang, Shu-Chen, 2023. "Framing the virus: The political, economic, biomedical and social understandings of the COVID-19 in Taiwan," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    6. Zbysław Dobrowolski, 2021. "Internet of Things and Other E-Solutions in Supply Chain Management May Generate Threats in the Energy Sector—The Quest for Preventive Measures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-11, August.

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