Post-recovery Stigma in Early and Late COVID-19 Epidemic

Abstract

People who recover from the novel coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) complain of psychological symptoms such as stress, anxiety, and depression by psycho-stress due to social stigma in the early stage of the epidemic. To assess the psychological stigma of early and late epidemic periods, stigma scale was compared between the first epidemic period (February-May 2020, n = 20) and the fifth epidemic period (February-May 2022, n = 21) post-recovery COVID-19 patients in outpatient clinic. The average total stigma score was significantly higher (79.6 ± 18.16) in post-recovery COVID-19 patients of the early (first) epidemic period compared to late (5th) epidemic period patients (37.5 ± 10.99). Four subscales were significantly higher in early epidemic period compared to late epidemic period (enacted stigma 27.5 ± 7.25 vs. 13.0 ± 4.18, disclosure concerns 19.5 ± 9.38 vs. 9.4 ± 2.99, negative self-image 16.2 ± 8.10 vs. 8.1 ± 2.47, concern with public attitudes 16.6 ± 6.95 vs. 7.0 ± 2.01). In those who recovered from the early COVID-19 epidemic period, patients experienced significantly higher social stigma stress compared to the late epidemic period. In the early period of novel virus epidemics, the risk of personal stigmatization and stress should be prevented in public policy. Socio-psychological assessment and treatment should be considered for the patient in addition to physical symptoms.