IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i12p4912-d372244.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Can Information about Pandemics Increase Negative Attitudes toward Foreign Groups? A Case of COVID-19 Outbreak

Author

Listed:
  • Piotr Sorokowski

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Agata Groyecka

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Marta Kowal

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Agnieszka Sorokowska

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Michał Białek

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Izabela Lebuda

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

  • Małgorzata Dobrowolska

    (Institute of Education and Communications Studies, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland)

  • Przemysław Zdybek

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Opole, 45-001 Opole, Poland)

  • Maciej Karwowski

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Wrocław, 50-527 Wrocław, Poland)

Abstract

Pathogen threat can translate into a willingness to distance oneself from others on a psychological level. Building on this notion, we predicted that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic can affect attitudes toward foreign nationalities. We explored the intergroup consequences of the current epidemiological situation in two studies involving a total of 652 participants. In correlational Study 1, we showed a positive relationship between media exposure in the United Kingdom (UK) and in Poland, and prejudice to four foreign nationalities. Study 2 showed that negative affect toward Italians (i.e., a nation struggling with the most severe COVID-19 outbreak at the time of the study) was indirectly predicted by exposure to news about coronavirus through the increase in anxiety, but this effect was not observed when a generalized measure of prejudice was considered. Overall, our studies revealed that prejudice and anxiety are sensitive to the current epidemiological situation, and our findings suggest that the outbreak of COVID-19 may translate into severe social consequences and increased psychological distancing to nations most affected by the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Piotr Sorokowski & Agata Groyecka & Marta Kowal & Agnieszka Sorokowska & Michał Białek & Izabela Lebuda & Małgorzata Dobrowolska & Przemysław Zdybek & Maciej Karwowski, 2020. "Can Information about Pandemics Increase Negative Attitudes toward Foreign Groups? A Case of COVID-19 Outbreak," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-10, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:12:p:4912-:d:372244
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/12/4912/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/12/4912/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Warwick McKibbin & Roshen Fernando, 2021. "The Global Macroeconomic Impacts of COVID-19: Seven Scenarios," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 20(2), pages 1-30, Summer.
    2. Gabriele Prati & Luca Pietrantoni, 2016. "Knowledge, Risk Perceptions, and Xenophobic Attitudes: Evidence from Italy During the Ebola Outbreak," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(10), pages 2000-2010, October.
    3. John H Shaver & Chris G Sibley & Danny Osborne & Joseph Bulbulia, 2017. "News exposure predicts anti-Muslim prejudice," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Haobin Fan & Xuanyi Nie, 2020. "Impacts of Layoffs and Government Assistance on Mental Health during COVID-19: An Evidence-Based Study of the United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-23, September.
    2. Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan & Md. Abul Kalam & Shahanaj Shano & Md. Raihan Khan Nayem & Md. Kaisar Rahman & Shahneaz Ali Khan & Ariful Islam, 2020. "Assessment of Epidemiological Determinants of COVID-19 Pandemic Related to Social and Economic Factors Globally," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Isabel Mercader Rubio & Pilar Sánchez-López & Nieves Gutiérrez Ángel & Nieves Fátima Oropesa Ruiz, 2022. "Psychological Consequences of Fear of COVID-19: Symptom Analysis of Triggered Anxiety and Depression Disorders in Adolescents and Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-8, October.
    4. van Mulukom, Valerie & Pummerer, Lotte J. & Alper, Sinan & Bai, Hui & Čavojová, Vladimíra & Farias, Jessica & Kay, Cameron S. & Lazarevic, Ljiljana B. & Lobato, Emilio J.C. & Marinthe, Gaëlle & Pavela, 2022. "Antecedents and consequences of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    5. Agnieszka Żelaźniewicz & Judyta Nowak-Kornicka & Renata Figura & Agata Groyecka-Bernard & Piotr Sorokowski & Bogusław Pawłowski, 2020. "Pharyngeal Detection of Staphylococcus aureus as a Possible Factor Related to Disgust Sensitivity in Humans," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, November.
    6. Muhammad Khalilur Rahman & Md Abu Issa Gazi & Miraj Ahmed Bhuiyan & Md Atikur Rahaman, 2021. "Effect of Covid-19 pandemic on tourist travel risk and management perceptions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-18, September.
    7. Elena Fernández-Díaz & Patricia P. Iglesias-Sánchez & Carmen Jambrino-Maldonado, 2020. "Exploring WHO Communication during the COVID 19 Pandemic through the WHO Website Based on W3C Guidelines: Accessible for All?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-17, August.
    8. Sohel M. Imroz & Tamilla Curtis & Scott C. Ambrose, 2023. "Perception of Crisis Management, Service Quality, and Loyalty Programs on Airline Travel Intention: What Roles Do Fear of COVID-19 and Risk Attitude Play?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-16, September.
    9. Shaul Kimhi & Yohanan Eshel & Hadas Marciano & Bruria Adini, 2020. "Distress and Resilience in the Days of COVID-19: Comparing Two Ethnicities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-11, June.
    10. Mengna Guo & Mar Joanpere & Cristina Pulido & Maria Padrós Cuxart, 2020. "Coping of Chinese Citizens Living in Spain during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for Personal Well-Being and Social Cohesion," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-15, September.
    11. Yinghui Huang & Hui Liu & Lin Zhang & Shen Li & Weijun Wang & Zhihong Ren & Zongkui Zhou & Xueyao Ma, 2021. "The Psychological and Behavioral Patterns of Online Psychological Help-Seekers before and during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Text Mining-Based Longitudinal Ecological Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-19, November.
    12. Linke Yu & Mariah Lecompte & Weiguo Zhang & Peizhong Wang & Lixia Yang, 2021. "Sociodemographic and COVID-Related Predictors for Mental Health Condition of Mainland Chinese in Canada Amidst the Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    13. Adriana Angel & Lissette Marroquin-Velasquez & Sandra Idrovo, 2021. "Dialectical Tensions of Sustainability and Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Tale from Latin America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-17, July.
    14. 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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. George, Ammu & Li, Changtai & Lim, Jing Zhi & Xie, Taojun, 2021. "From SARS to COVID-19: The evolving role of China-ASEAN production network," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    2. Phurichai Rungcharoenkitkul, 2021. "Macroeconomic effects of COVID‐19: A mid‐term review," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 439-458, October.
    3. Tolcha, Tassew Dufera, 2023. "The state of Africa's air transport market amid COVID-19, and forecasts for recovery," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    4. A. G. Aganbegyan & A. N. Klepach & B. N. Porfiryev & M. N. Uzyakov & A. A. Shirov, 2020. "Post-Pandemic Recovery: The Russian Economy and the Transition to Sustainable Social and Economic Development," Studies on Russian Economic Development, Springer, vol. 31(6), pages 599-605, November.
    5. Eline Moens & Louis Lippens & Philippe Sterkens & Johannes Weytjens & Stijn Baert, 2022. "The COVID-19 crisis and telework: a research survey on experiences, expectations and hopes," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(4), pages 729-753, June.
    6. Wittwer, Glyn & Anderson, Kym, 2021. "COVID-19 and Global Beverage Markets: Implications for Wine," Journal of Wine Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(2), pages 117-130, May.
    7. Camelia GHEORGHE & Teodora ROȘU, 2023. "The Impact Of Covid-19 On The Aviation Sector In Europe. A Case Study Of Romania," Romanian Economic Business Review, Romanian-American University, vol. 18(2), pages 103-129, June.
    8. Rubén Muñoz Pavón & Antonio A. Arcos Alvarez & Marcos G. Alberti, 2020. "Possibilities of BIM-FM for the Management of COVID in Public Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-21, November.
    9. Akhtaruzzaman, Md & Boubaker, Sabri & Sensoy, Ahmet, 2021. "Financial contagion during COVID–19 crisis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    10. Claudia Salceanu & Mariana Floricica Calin, 2022. "The Pandemic Context and Quality of Life for Youth in Constanta County," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 27(1), pages 687-696, January.
    11. Yanguas Parra, Paola & Hauenstein, Christian & Oei, Pao-Yu, 2021. "The death valley of coal – Modelling COVID-19 recovery scenarios for steam coal markets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    12. Di Bartolomeo, Giovanni & D'Imperio, Paolo & Felici, Francesco, 2022. "The fiscal response to the Italian COVID-19 crisis: A counterfactual analysis," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    13. Turcan Cristian Dragos & Sabin-Alexandru Babeanu & Rapan Claudia Mihaela & Banta Viorel Costin, 2023. "Obstacles And Solutions In Accounting During The Pandemic Era," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1, pages 219-225, February.
    14. Brum, Matias & De Rosa, Mauricio, 2021. "Too little but not too late: nowcasting poverty and cash transfers’ incidence during COVID-19’s crisis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    15. Paul J. J. Welfens, 2020. "Macroeconomic and health care aspects of the coronavirus epidemic: EU, US and global perspectives," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 295-362, May.
    16. Oleksiuk Adam & Pleśniak Agnieszka, 2022. "Environment Characteristics and Internationalization of SMEs: Insights from a Polish and Finnish Sample," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 30(3), pages 175-194, September.
    17. Matías Brum & Mauricio de Rosa, 2020. "Too little but not too late. Nowcasting poverty and cash transfers' incidence in Uruguay during COVID-19's crisis," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 20-09, Instituto de Economía - IECON.
    18. Mazhar Mughal & Rashid Javed, 2022. "Perturbed nuptiality, delayed fertility: childbirth effects of Covid19," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 39(4), pages 589-597, December.
    19. James Chapman & Ajit Desai, 2021. "Using Payments Data to Nowcast Macroeconomic Variables During the Onset of COVID-19," Staff Working Papers 21-2, Bank of Canada.
    20. Emmanuel Apergis & Nicholas Apergis, 2021. "The impact of COVID-19 on economic growth: evidence from a Bayesian Panel Vector Autoregressive (BPVAR) model," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(58), pages 6739-6751, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:12:p:4912-:d:372244. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.