Dual pandemics of COVID‐19 and systemic racism: The roles of perceptions of inequities, civic values, and conservatism in mask‐wearing behavior

Abstract

AbstractAmid unprecedented political polarization, the United States continues to grapple with the simultaneous crises of COVID‐19 and systemic racism. We examine potential predictors of COVID‐19 mask wearing at the intersection of these crises, with particular attention to the behavior of conservatives and young people, who have resisted compliance with efforts to contain the spread of COVID‐19. Specifically, we investigate perceptions of racial/ethnic inequities in the healthcare system and civic values as predictors of COVID‐19 mask‐wearing frequency and potential moderators of the relationship between political orientation and COVID‐19 mask‐wearing frequency. Diverse college students at a university in southern California participated in our longitudinal survey, which was initiated prior to the COVID‐19 pandemic (N = 431). We found that perceptions of inequities and civic values predicted mask wearing, whereas political conservatism was negatively related to mask wearing. Further, conservative participants were more likely to wear masks if they reported greater perceptions of inequities. Our results provide a foundation for future research that may inform targeted public health interventions aimed at encouraging responsible COVID‐19 behavior and fostering dialogue on systemic equities in a contentious political environment.