Understanding xenophobia during the COVID-19 pandemic: an examination of explanatory variables and variations

Abstract

Many people experience significant distress due to COVID-19, indicative of COVID stress syndrome (CSS). Of the five facets of CSS, a major concern is xenophobia––a fear of foreigners because they are viewed as sources of COVID-19. Xenophobic attitudes have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. A key factor that may underlie COVID-19-related xenophobia is CSS’ central facet, fears of COVID-19 dangerousness and contamination. The purpose of this study was to identify regional and temporal differences in xenophobia, as well as the potential mediating effect of danger and contamination fears on xenophobia across time. A sample of 3674 adults completed a longitudinal online self-report survey assessing danger and contamination fears and xenophobia, both related to COVID-19, at time one (March-April,2020) and time two (May, 2020). Three mixed methods ANOVAs were used to examine regional and temporal differences in xenophobia. A mediation analysis was conducted to examine whether changes in xenophobia may be due to changes in fear of dangerousness and contamination. Results indicated that (1) xenophobia was greater in the US than Canada only at time two, (2) xenophobic attitudes were greater in Eastern Canada than Western and Atlantic Canada, (3) there were no differences in xenophobia between US regions, (4) xenophobia decreased similarly from time one to time two between regions, and (5) changes in fears of dangerousness and contamination mediated the relationship between xenophobia at times one and two. This study may inform our understanding of xenophobia as well as government campaigns and clinical interventions focused on mitigating xenophobia.