Mask Wearing and Perceived Discrimination Associated With COVID-19 in the United States From March 2020 to May 2021

February 12, 2022

Soyoung Kwon

Health Education and Behavior

This study investigated relationships between mask wearing and COVID-19-associated discrimination (CAD) during the pandemic (March 2020- May 2021) in the United States, including the differences between states with differing mask mandates. The study used three-level longitudinal analyses of nationally representative sample of U.S. adults from the Understanding America Study (UAS). The study found that CAD was much higher for mask wearers than non-mask wearers pre-August 2020, however this reversed after this date. Mask wearers also reported higher CAD in states with no mask mandate over mask mandated states, with this pattern reversing for non-mask wearers. Females and racial/ethnic minorities were at higher risk of CAD than their counterparts. This study provides evidence of polarization regarding mask wearing and calls for people to recognize differences, to be open and inclusive guided by clear messaging from interdisciplinary researchers and educators in public health, especially during a public health crisis.

Soyoung Kwon P. Mask Wearing and Perceived Discrimination Associated With COVID-19 in the United States From March 2020 to May 2021: Three-Level Longitudinal Analyses: https://doi.org/101177/10901981221076396 2022; : 109019812210763.

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