Association between Social Engagements and Stigmatization of COVID-19 Infection among Community Population in Japan

Yuna Koyama, Nobutoshi Nawa, Yui Yamaoka, Hisaaki Nishimura, Jin Kuramochi and Takeo Fujiwara
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Yuna Koyama: Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
Nobutoshi Nawa: Department of Medical Education Research and Development, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
Yui Yamaoka: Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
Hisaaki Nishimura: Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
Jin Kuramochi: Kuramochi Clinic Interpark, Tochigi 321-0114, Japan
Takeo Fujiwara: Department of Global Health Promotion, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8519, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-11

Abstract: In the face of unknown risks, including the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we tend to have stigmatized perceptions. The current study aimed to examine the association of social engagements with the level of stigmatization of COVID-19 infection among the general population. The data of 429 participants of the Utsunomiya COVID-19 seroprevalence neighborhood association (U-CORONA) study, a population-based cohort study conducted in Utsunomiya City, Japan, were analyzed. Their stigmatized perception of people with COVID-19 infection was evaluated via a questionnaire for the situation if they or others in their community were to get infected. The association between social engagements (community social capital, social network diversity, and social network size) and stigmatization were analyzed by a multiple linear regression model with generalized estimating equations. Overall, females reported a higher stigmatized perception of people with COVID-19 than males. Lower education and depressive symptoms were also positively associated with higher stigmatization, while age, household income, and comorbidities were not. People with higher community social capital reported lower stigmatization (B = −0.69, 95% CI = −1.23 to −0.16), while social network diversity and social network size did not show an association with stigmatization. We found an association between community social capital and stigmatization, suggesting that enhancing their community social capital, but not social network diversity and size, has the potential to mitigate the levels of stigmatization.

Keywords: stigma; pandemic; COVID-19; social capital; social network; social punishment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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