Are we in this together? Changes in anti-immigrant sentiments during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is posing a threat to people all across the globe. According to traditional literature, threat perceptions induce anti-immigrant sentiments, as ingroup identity and self-interest are strengthened at the expense of the outgroup. In this study, we investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic indeed increases anti-immigrant sentiments, or that this type of threat elicits other or no group related responses. We also look at whether such responses are expressed more strongly among specific subgroups in Dutch society. To do so, we use unique longitudinal panel data based on the European Values Study 2017, with a repeated measure in May 2020, during national lockdown in the Netherlands. Based on structural equation modeling, we demonstrate that anti-immigrant sentiments have not increased due to (perceived threat of) the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, negative opinions towards immigrants decreased between 2017 and 2020 in the Netherlands, for which we provide alternative explanations. Although some subgroups do experience more threat than others due to the coronavirus, such as women, first generation immigrants, and the elderly, this does not lead to more negative feelings towards outgroups. Whether this is due to the fact that individuals feel threatened by everyone, regardless of group membership, should be explored in future research.

Attitudes towards migrants and preferences for asylum and refugee policies before and during Russian invasion of Ukraine: The case of Slovakia

“…Less is known about how situational factors could be associated with the relationship between well-being and ATM or preferences for asylum and refugee policies. Previous studies have shown that large-scale crises eliciting strong negative feelings, such as pandemics or economic cycles, may be associated with less favourable ATM and disturb the support for asylum and refugee policies (Adam-Troian & Bagci, 2021;Andrighetto et al, 2016;Esses & Hamilton, 2021;Muis & Reeskens, 2022). This is in line with realistic group conflict theory indicating that when resources -e.g.…”

“…Importantly, the results provide optimistic information that the effect of emotions upon attitudes could spill over beyond Ukrainian refugees. In other words, the newly emerged sense of shared fate may also include other ethnically or culturally more diverse groups of people in need (Muis & Reeskens, 2022). The fact that natives may perceive themselves to be equally threatened could, thus, reduce negative outgroup affect (Adam-Troian & Bagci, 2021;Andrighetto et al, 2016).…”

“…Literature provides evidence that one of the most important drivers shaping people's attitudes towards migrants (ATM), and subsequently their preferences for asylum and refugee policies, is subjective well-being. However, several studies show that ATM and preferences for asylum and refugee policies may not be robust in relation to momentous events eliciting strong negative feelings, such as large-scale economic downturns or pandemics (Adam-Troian & Bagci, 2021;Andrighetto et al, 2016;Esses & Hamilton, 2021;Muis & Reeskens, 2022).…”

The Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic Made People Feel Threatened, but had a Limited Impact on Political Attitudes in the United States

“…For example, a three-wave panel study starting in February 2020 in Poland found that people became more authoritarian and prejudiced towards sexual dissenters (Golect de Zavala et al, 2021), suggestive of a cultural conservative shift in that country. However, a two-wave panel study in the Netherlands starting in 2017 found that people became more supportive of gender equality and less supportive of immigrant prejudice (Muis & Reeskens, 2022;Reeskens et al 2021), contrary to a cultural conservative shift pattern.…”

Globalization and social distance: Multilevel analysis of attitudes toward immigrants in the European Union

“…Recent research argues that there is no clear trend of increased antipathy toward immigration as a pandemic threat to health is considered a common threat and natives have adopted a prosocial attitude toward resident immigrants on the basis of a conception of "we are all in the same boat". This is indicative of increasingly identifying, rather than avoiding or detesting these outgroups in response to pathogen threats [62][63][64]. Despite evidence of the favorable response, there is still an issue around whether a higher threshold for immigrants approaching the border will be perceived as acceptable by the public.…”