Why investigating stigmatisation during the coronavirus pandemic?
From the beginning, the COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by open questions, diverging opinions - even among experts (e. g., Kunz, 2021), and the spread of misinformation (Rocha et al., 2021). The uncertainties surrounding the new virus fueled people's fears (Millroth & Frey, 2021). One resulting phenomenon was the prejudgement, exclusion and discrimination of individuals and groups perceived as responsible for the spread of the coronavirus. People working in healthcare (Faller et al., 2022) or those of Asian descent (Li et al., 2021), for example, were at times perceived as potential carriers of COVID-19. Their devaluation can, in principle, be viewed as a form of self-protection (Deacon, 2006), but it has significant consequences for those affected - impacting both their physical and mental health (Ransing et al., 2020). At the same time, effects may arise that, in the worst case, even contribute to the spread of the pandemic (Ransing et al., 2020). stigmatisation is a complex and serious phenomenon, and its examination is highly relevant in the context of the pandemic spread of a virus.
Literature
Deacon, H. (2006). Towards a sustainable theory of health-related stigma: lessons from the HIV/AIDS literature. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 16(6), 418-425. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.900 
Faller, G., Zeiser, M., Geiger, L., Schieron, M., Skarabis, N., Scheuvens, L., Schubert, M., Melzer, M., Wegewitz, U., Seidler, A. & Girbig, M. (2022). Stigmatisierungserfahrungen bei beruflich Pflegenden im Kontext von Covid-19 – eine Qualitative Studie. Gesundheitswesen, 84(04), 310–318. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1773-0786
Kunz, P. (2021, 18. Januar). Das Experten-Streit-Virus. Wissenschaftler-Disput: Das Experten-Streit-Virus – ZDFheute. https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/corona-wissenschaft-experten-streit-100.html
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Millroth, P. & Frey, R. (2021). Fear and anxiety in the face of COVID-19: Negative dispositions towards risk and uncertainty as vulnerability factors. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 83 102454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2021.102454
Ransing, R., Ramalho, R., de Filippis, R., Ojeahere, M. I., Karaliuniene, R., Orsolini, L., . . . Bytyçi, D. G. (2020). Infectious disease outbreak related stigma and discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic: drivers, facilitators, manifestations, and outcomes across the world. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
Rocha, Y. M., De Moura, G. A., Desidério, G. R., De Oliveira, C. A. F., Lourenço, F. & De Figueiredo Nicolete, L. D. (2021). The impact of fake news on social media and its influence on health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review. Journal Of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-021-01658-z
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