# "Am I the only one who will Spread the Virus?": Impact of Public Stigma Towards the East Asian Population Living in Spain Related to COVID-19

## TL;DR

This study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic increased stigma against East Asians in Spain and affected their mental and social health.

## Contribution

The study provides new qualitative insights into the shift from verbal to physical discrimination against East Asians during the pandemic.

## Key findings

- Discrimination against East Asians in Spain increased from verbal to physical during the pandemic.
- Mental and social health issues like fear and isolation were prominent among participants.
- Support networks, education, and community cohesion helped mitigate the negative effects of stigma.

## Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that COVID-19 led to an increase in stigma towards the Asian population with a negative impact on their health. This study aims to explore this phenomenon and its impact on health through the qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with 26 people of Asian origin living in Spain from September 2020 to September 2021. Among the results, it was found that, prior to the pandemic, discrimination was mostly verbal. After the outbreak of the pandemic, some participants, who were blamed and referred to as "COVID", experienced fear and physical aggression. Among the health effects, mental and social disturbances such as feeling like "permanent foreigners", worrying about being stigmatized or fear of interacting with others were prominent. The main protective factor was the support network, including education and community cohesion as main determinants. Future research is needed to analyse the evolution of this stigma after the pandemic and to explore in detail its impact on health.