Belief in Science and Attitudes Toward COVID-19: A Demographic Standardization Approach to China-US Comparison, 2020

Yue Qian; Yongai Jin; Yu Xie

doi:10.46234/ccdcw2021.157

Belief in Science and Attitudes Toward COVID-19: A Demographic Standardization Approach to China-US Comparison, 2020

China CDC Wkly. 2021 Jul 23;3(30):645-649. doi: 10.46234/ccdcw2021.157.

Authors

Yue Qian¹, Yongai Jin², Yu Xie^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
² Center for Population and Development Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China.
³ Department of Sociology, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA.
⁴ Center for Social Research, Peking University, Beijing, China.

Abstract

What is already known about this topic?: Attitudes of disapproval toward public health measures led to behaviors that could increase vulnerability to contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

What is added by this report?: Chinese citizens rated the necessity of mitigation measures for combating COVID-19 higher than did Americans (4.81 vs. 4.03 on a 1-5 scale). The China-US difference was attributable to 1) Chinese citizens having more confidence in scientists than Americans and 2) Chinese citizens almost invariably accepting the necessity of COVID-19 mitigation measures, regardless of their confidence in scientists.

What are the implications for public health practice?: Building public support for population health measures and public trust in science is crucial for handling epidemic crises.

Keywords: Attitudes; Belief in Science; COVID-19; Comparison; Demographic Standardization Approach.

Copyright and License information: Editorial Office of CCDCW, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2021.

Grants and funding

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (OV7-170372); Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, the Research Funds of Renmin University of China; the financial support for data collection from Princeton University