Self-protection or “othering” discrimination? How information sources link perceived threats and avoidance behaviors toward immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic

Self-protection or "othering" discrimination? How information sources link perceived threats and avoidance behaviors toward immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemicSelf-protection or "othering" discrimination?How information sources link perceived threats and avoidance behaviors toward immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic Abstract Throughout history, disease outbreaks have triggered discrimination against and avoidance of groups perceived as carriers, reflecting a persistent pattern of "othering" in response to health threats.This study examines how COVID-19 threat perceptions influenced avoidance behaviors toward specific ethnic groups, and investigates the mediating role of trust in different information sources.Using data from an online survey conducted via Meta Advertising Manager in Europe and the United States during the early stages of the pandemic, the research reveals three key findings.First, perceived threats from COVID-19 correlated with avoidance of ethnic-specific restaurants, products, and human contacts, with stronger associations observed for Asians than for Iranians or Italians.Second, higher perceived threat levels positively correlated with increased trust in most information channels, though the relationship varied by country.Third, the study identifies a crucial mechanism whereby trust in social media networks and personal acquaintances acted as a key factor in transforming perceived pandemic threats into ethnically targeted avoidance behaviors, while trust in traditional information sources like medical professionals and newspapers showed no such effect.These findings demonstrate how global health crises can inadvertently reinforce xenophobic attitudes through information dissemination channels, and offer insights for preventing racial and ethnic biases during public health emergencies.