Anti-stigma campaign: the COVID-19 stigma and associated factors among Chinese young students

IntroductionCOVID-19-related stigma, a persistent consequence of the pandemic, poses a significant threat to the well-being of individuals, particularly young students in crucial developmental stages. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of stigma views towards COVID-19 patients among youn...

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Main Authors: Cong Wang, Yun-Fei Mu, Jia Cai, Yu Wang, Zhong-Yue Deng, Ai-Ping Deng, Hong-Jun Song, Tian-Ming Zhang, Xin-Yi Zhao, Yi-Yue Yang, Li Yin, Yi Huang, Jian-Jun Luo, Mao-Sheng Ran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1596929/full
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author Cong Wang
Cong Wang
Yun-Fei Mu
Yun-Fei Mu
Jia Cai
Yu Wang
Zhong-Yue Deng
Zhong-Yue Deng
Ai-Ping Deng
Ai-Ping Deng
Hong-Jun Song
Hong-Jun Song
Tian-Ming Zhang
Xin-Yi Zhao
Yi-Yue Yang
Li Yin
Yi Huang
Yi Huang
Jian-Jun Luo
Mao-Sheng Ran
Mao-Sheng Ran
author_facet Cong Wang
Cong Wang
Yun-Fei Mu
Yun-Fei Mu
Jia Cai
Yu Wang
Zhong-Yue Deng
Zhong-Yue Deng
Ai-Ping Deng
Ai-Ping Deng
Hong-Jun Song
Hong-Jun Song
Tian-Ming Zhang
Xin-Yi Zhao
Yi-Yue Yang
Li Yin
Yi Huang
Yi Huang
Jian-Jun Luo
Mao-Sheng Ran
Mao-Sheng Ran
author_sort Cong Wang
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionCOVID-19-related stigma, a persistent consequence of the pandemic, poses a significant threat to the well-being of individuals, particularly young students in crucial developmental stages. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of stigma views towards COVID-19 patients among young students in Sichuan Province, China, following the lifting of pandemic restrictions, and explored the associated influencing factors.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted online involving 82,873 young students. Data on demographic information, COVID-19-related experiences, and stigma views were collected. Logistic regression analysis identified risk factors for stigma, while Random Forest (RF) modeling ranked the importance of these factors.Results20,155 (24.3%) participants reported stigmatizing views toward COVID-19 patients. Higher levels of psychological stress, particularly post-restriction lifting, significant emerged as a risk factor for stigma. Both self-infection and family members' infection were risk factors of stigma, although psychological stress proved more influential. Furthermore, male students, those from minority groups, and those with rural household registrations exhibited higher stigma risk.DiscussionThese findings highlight the enduring nature of COVID-19 stigma among young students even after restrictions lifted. Targeted interventions aimed at reducing stigma and mitigating psychological stress are crucial for supporting the well-being of this vulnerable population.
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spelling doaj-art-7e1e3468a43744e5a21e1c199d22155c2025-08-20T03:56:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15969291596929Anti-stigma campaign: the COVID-19 stigma and associated factors among Chinese young studentsCong Wang0Cong Wang1Yun-Fei Mu2Yun-Fei Mu3Jia Cai4Yu Wang5Zhong-Yue Deng6Zhong-Yue Deng7Ai-Ping Deng8Ai-Ping Deng9Hong-Jun Song10Hong-Jun Song11Tian-Ming Zhang12Xin-Yi Zhao13Yi-Yue Yang14Li Yin15Yi Huang16Yi Huang17Jian-Jun Luo18Mao-Sheng Ran19Mao-Sheng Ran20Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Social Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Social Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Social Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaWest China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaWest China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Social Work, Shanghai University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Health Humanities, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Social Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaChongqing Mental Health Center, Chongqing, Jiangbei, ChinaMental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartment of Social Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaIntroductionCOVID-19-related stigma, a persistent consequence of the pandemic, poses a significant threat to the well-being of individuals, particularly young students in crucial developmental stages. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of stigma views towards COVID-19 patients among young students in Sichuan Province, China, following the lifting of pandemic restrictions, and explored the associated influencing factors.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted online involving 82,873 young students. Data on demographic information, COVID-19-related experiences, and stigma views were collected. Logistic regression analysis identified risk factors for stigma, while Random Forest (RF) modeling ranked the importance of these factors.Results20,155 (24.3%) participants reported stigmatizing views toward COVID-19 patients. Higher levels of psychological stress, particularly post-restriction lifting, significant emerged as a risk factor for stigma. Both self-infection and family members' infection were risk factors of stigma, although psychological stress proved more influential. Furthermore, male students, those from minority groups, and those with rural household registrations exhibited higher stigma risk.DiscussionThese findings highlight the enduring nature of COVID-19 stigma among young students even after restrictions lifted. Targeted interventions aimed at reducing stigma and mitigating psychological stress are crucial for supporting the well-being of this vulnerable population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1596929/fullCOVID related stigmayouthstudentsChinainfluence factors
spellingShingle Cong Wang
Cong Wang
Yun-Fei Mu
Yun-Fei Mu
Jia Cai
Yu Wang
Zhong-Yue Deng
Zhong-Yue Deng
Ai-Ping Deng
Ai-Ping Deng
Hong-Jun Song
Hong-Jun Song
Tian-Ming Zhang
Xin-Yi Zhao
Yi-Yue Yang
Li Yin
Yi Huang
Yi Huang
Jian-Jun Luo
Mao-Sheng Ran
Mao-Sheng Ran
Anti-stigma campaign: the COVID-19 stigma and associated factors among Chinese young students
Frontiers in Public Health
COVID related stigma
youth
students
China
influence factors
title Anti-stigma campaign: the COVID-19 stigma and associated factors among Chinese young students
title_full Anti-stigma campaign: the COVID-19 stigma and associated factors among Chinese young students
title_fullStr Anti-stigma campaign: the COVID-19 stigma and associated factors among Chinese young students
title_full_unstemmed Anti-stigma campaign: the COVID-19 stigma and associated factors among Chinese young students
title_short Anti-stigma campaign: the COVID-19 stigma and associated factors among Chinese young students
title_sort anti stigma campaign the covid 19 stigma and associated factors among chinese young students
topic COVID related stigma
youth
students
China
influence factors
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1596929/full
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