JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Media have reported that Asians and people of Asian descent have been targets of the blame since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Objective:

This study aims to examine what types of discrimination Asians have experienced during the pandemic, as well as factors that can predict everyday discrimination and concerns over future discrimination that the community may face.

Methods:

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted. A total of 235 people who identified themselves as Asian or Asian American completed the questionnaire.

Results:

The study revealed four major findings. First, about 20-30% of the participants reported having experienced some types of discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over half of the participants worried that they will face some forms of discrimination in the future. Second, Chinese were more likely to experience discrimination than other Asian groups. Third, frequent use of social media for COVID-19 news positively predicted experience of discrimination and concern over future discrimination. Forth, Asians were more likely to experience “being treated with less courtesy or respect”, “acting as if you are dangerous,” or “acting as if they are afraid of you” than to experience “receiving poorer service” and “being threatened or harassed.” Asians were more likely to worry about “being treated with less courtesy or respect” than “being threatened or harassed” in the future.

Conclusions:

Our study provided important empirical evidence regarding various types of discrimination experienced by Asians during the pandemic. The role of social media as an information source that reinforced the perception of discrimination experience and the concern over future discrimination among Asians during this outbreak was noted.