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- Title
'Us-Versus-Them': Othering in COVID-19 public health behavior compliance.
- Authors
Van Scoy, Lauren Jodi; Snyder, Bethany; Miller, Erin L.; Toyobo, Olubukola; Grewal, Ashmita; Ha, Giang; Gillespie, Sarah; Patel, Megha; Zgierska, Aleksandra E.; Lennon, Robert P.
- Abstract
Objective: We explored public perceptions about the COVID-19 pandemic to learn how those attitudes may affect compliance with health behaviors. Methods: Participants were Central Pennsylvania adults from diverse backgrounds purposively sampled (based on race, gender, educational attainment, and healthcare worker status) who responded to a mixed methods survey, completed between March 25–31, 2020. Four open-ended questions were analyzed, including: "What worries you most about the COVID-19 pandemic?" We applied a pragmatic, inductive coding process to conduct a qualitative, descriptive content analysis of responses. Results: Of the 5,948 respondents, 538 were sampled for this qualitative analysis. Participants were 58% female, 56% with ≥ bachelor's degree, and 50% from minority racial backgrounds. Qualitative descriptive analysis revealed four themes related to respondents' health and societal concerns: lack of faith in others; fears of illness or death; frustration at perceived slow societal response; and a desire for transparency in communicating local COVID-19 information. An "us-versus-them" subtext emerged; participants attributed non-compliance with COVID-19 behaviors to other groups, setting themselves apart from those Others. Conclusion: Our study uncovered Othering undertones in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, occurring between groups of like-minded individuals with behavioral differences in 'compliance' versus 'non-compliance' with public health recommendations. Addressing the 'us-versus-them' mentality may be important for boosting compliance with recommended health behaviors.
- Subjects
PENNSYLVANIA; HEALTH behavior; OTHER (Philosophy); COVID-19; COVID-19 pandemic; MEDICAL personnel
- Publication
PLoS ONE, 2022, Vol 17, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1932-6203
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0261726