JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been increased reports of racial biases against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). However, the extent to which different AAPI groups perceive and/or experience first-hand or being a witness to such experiences) associated with COVID-19 has negatively affected people of their race has not received much attention.

Objective:

We used data from the COVID-19 Effects on the Mental and Physical Health of AAPIs Survey Study (COMPASS), a nationwide, multi-lingual, community-based survey to empirically examine racial bias beliefs on AAPIs as related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors associated with these beliefs.

Methods:

COMPASS participants were AAPI adults who were able to speak English, Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin), Korean, Samoan, or Vietnamese and who resided in the United States (US) during the time of the survey (October 2020-May 2021). Participants completed the survey online, by phone, or in-person. The Coronavirus Racial Bias Scale (CRBS) was used to assess COVID-19 related racial bias beliefs towards AAPIs. Participants were asked to rate the degree to which they agree with 9 statements on a 5-point Likert scale (i.e., “1 strongly disagree” to “5 strongly agree”). Higher score indicated greater degree of agreement with coronavirus racial bias beliefs. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine associations of demographic, health, and COVID-19 related characteristics with perceived racial bias.

Results:

A total of 5,068 participants completed the survey (mean age=45.4 years old; range: 18-97). Overall, 74% agreed or strongly agreed to one or more of the COVID-19 racial bias beliefs in the past 6 months (during the COVID-19 pandemic). Across the 9 racial bias beliefs, participants scored on the average 2.59 (SD=0.96; range 1-5). Adjusted analyses revealed that compared to Asian Indians, those who are ethnic Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other/multi-cultural had significantly higher mean CRBS scores whereas no significant differences were found among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Non-heterosexual participants had a statistically significant higher mean CRBS scores compared to heterosexual participants. Compared to participants who were 60 years or older, those who were younger (<30, 30-39, 40-49, and 50-59 years) had significantly higher mean CRBS scores. US born participants had significantly higher mean CRBS scores than those who were foreign-born, whereas those with limited English proficiency (relative to those reporting no limitation) had lower mean CRBS scores.

Conclusions:

Many COMPASS participants reported racial bias beliefs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Relevant sociodemographic contexts, pre-existing and COVID-specific factors across individual, community and society levels were associated with perceived racial bias of “being Asian” during the pandemic. Findings underscore the importance of addressing the burden of racial bias on AAPI communities among other COVID-19 related sequalae.