COVID-19 personal and perceived stigma as predictors of autonomy and relatedness need satisfaction in Hong Kong’s university students

Abstract

Introduction

Under self-determination theory, need satisfaction leads to psychological well-being, whereas their frustration leads to ill-being. This research explores COVID-19 personal and perceived stigma as predictors of autonomy and relatedness need satisfaction in Hong Kong university students. Personal stigma refers to one’s attitudes and treatment of a stigmatized group. Perceived stigma refers to what one believes are their community’s attitudes and treatment of the same.

Significance

The unprecedented nature of COVID-19 makes it unclear how existing theory translates to COVID-19 stigma. Our research addresses this by showing COVID-19 perceived stigma predicts worsened relatedness satisfaction, which opens implications of its effects on psychological well-being.

Methods

102 university students in Hong Kong recruited in November to answer an online questionnaire. Inclusion criteria include being students in a higher education institution in Hong Kong, at least 18 years of age, residency in Hong Kong, and no prior history of mental illness.

Results

High COVID-19 perceived stigma is associated with worse sense of relatedness adjusted for after adjusting for confounders (β=-1.17, p=0.017). COVID-19 fear is associated with both increased COVID-19 personal stigma (β=1.26, p<0.001) and perceived stigma (β=0.70, p-value=0.009). Personally, knowing someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19 has no association with either decreased COVID-19 personal stigma (β=0.99, p-value=0.355) or perceived stigma (β=0.65, p=0.387).

Conclusion

COVID-19 perceived stigma warrants attention as a predictor of decreased relatedness need satisfaction. Consistent with existing theory on health-related stigma, fear is a factor associated with increased COVID-19 stigma, and should be considered as a target for stigma-reduction interventions.