Cited by 9Racial and Ethnic Identity ResearchCommunication and COVID-19 ImpactHealth disparities and outcomes

Beyond fear of backlash: Effects of messages about structural drivers of COVID-19 disparities among large samples of Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White Americans

Open access
Lewis, Neil A., Porticella, Norman, Liu, Jiawei, Taylor, Teairah, Michener, Jamila, Barry, Colleen L., Nagler, Rebekah H., Gollust, Sarah +3 more·2025·Social Science & Medicine

Abstract

Although U.S. health disparities are well-documented, the very communities that bear the brunt of those disparities are, ironically, underrepresented in scientific efforts to understand and address them. In two experiments (total N = 9523), we explored the consequences of omitting those perspectives for efforts to understand and address disparities in the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that, by prioritizing the perspectives of White Americans, studies of pandemic disparities likely missed important insights. Specifically, we purposively sampled the four largest racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. and found that people of color were consistently more concerned, and more willing to engage in both individual and collective efforts to address health disparities, than their White counterparts. In addition, messages highlighting structural drivers of health disparities further bolstered support for inequality mitigating policies.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118096

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  • A 2025 experimental survey study found that structural messaging increased support for systemic policy solutions.

    “For example, a 2025 experimental survey study found structural messaging increased support for systemic policy solutions, illustrating how traditional deprivation-based SDOH frameworks obscure communities’ demonstrated capacity to mobilize against health injustices [27].”

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Authors
Lewis, N. A., Porticella, N., Liu, J., Taylor, T., Michener, J., Barry, C. L., Nagler, R. H., Gollust, S., Moore, S. T., Fowler, E. F., & Niederdeppe, J.
Affiliations
  • Cornell University (US)
  • University of Florida (US)
  • University of Minnesota (US)
  • Wesleyan University (US)
Corresponding author
Lewis, Neil A.
Venue
Social Science & Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2025-07
Volume
377
Pages
118096
ISSN
0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4409744479
Cited by
9
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6
FWCI
15.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (79754)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
  • Social Sciences › Communication › Communication and COVID-19 Impact
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
Keywords
racial and ethnic minorities, Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, White Americans, collective action
MeSH terms
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, White, Adult, Asian, Black or African American, Ethnicity, Female, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, United States, White People, Health Status Disparities

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