Medical mistrust in racial minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Attitudes, actions and mental health outcomes.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that minority groups had a higher level of medical mistrust than non-minority groups, and minority communities were criticized for noncompliance with the public health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explores racial minorities' attitudes an...

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Main Authors: Pei Wang, Yutong Zhu, Zexi Jin, Wisteria Deng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLOS Global Public Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003871
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author Pei Wang
Yutong Zhu
Zexi Jin
Wisteria Deng
author_facet Pei Wang
Yutong Zhu
Zexi Jin
Wisteria Deng
author_sort Pei Wang
collection DOAJ
description Numerous studies have demonstrated that minority groups had a higher level of medical mistrust than non-minority groups, and minority communities were criticized for noncompliance with the public health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explores racial minorities' attitudes and actual behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic public health guidelines. A total of 221 adults responded to an online survey (mean age = 41.5; 48.0% female; 24.4% non-White). Study results indicate that racial minorities have lower trust in public health guidelines compared to non-minority groups but have taken more actions according to the public health guidelines. Analysis also uncovers the mediating roles of perceived pandemic severity and perceived public health action benefits, on the relation between minority status and public health compliance. This study contextualizes how racial minorities respond to public health crises in action, and the dissonance between that and their historical mistrust of medical authorities. This work highlights the importance of recognizing the minority's historical burden and fostering trust in government and professionals during public health crisis.
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spelling doaj-art-4f88abab3dce4283bbae679b009b73652025-08-20T02:49:33ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752024-01-01412e000387110.1371/journal.pgph.0003871Medical mistrust in racial minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Attitudes, actions and mental health outcomes.Pei WangYutong ZhuZexi JinWisteria DengNumerous studies have demonstrated that minority groups had a higher level of medical mistrust than non-minority groups, and minority communities were criticized for noncompliance with the public health guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explores racial minorities' attitudes and actual behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic public health guidelines. A total of 221 adults responded to an online survey (mean age = 41.5; 48.0% female; 24.4% non-White). Study results indicate that racial minorities have lower trust in public health guidelines compared to non-minority groups but have taken more actions according to the public health guidelines. Analysis also uncovers the mediating roles of perceived pandemic severity and perceived public health action benefits, on the relation between minority status and public health compliance. This study contextualizes how racial minorities respond to public health crises in action, and the dissonance between that and their historical mistrust of medical authorities. This work highlights the importance of recognizing the minority's historical burden and fostering trust in government and professionals during public health crisis.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003871
spellingShingle Pei Wang
Yutong Zhu
Zexi Jin
Wisteria Deng
Medical mistrust in racial minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Attitudes, actions and mental health outcomes.
PLOS Global Public Health
title Medical mistrust in racial minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Attitudes, actions and mental health outcomes.
title_full Medical mistrust in racial minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Attitudes, actions and mental health outcomes.
title_fullStr Medical mistrust in racial minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Attitudes, actions and mental health outcomes.
title_full_unstemmed Medical mistrust in racial minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Attitudes, actions and mental health outcomes.
title_short Medical mistrust in racial minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic: Attitudes, actions and mental health outcomes.
title_sort medical mistrust in racial minorities during the covid 19 pandemic attitudes actions and mental health outcomes
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003871
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