Criminality, foreignness, and illness stereotypes underlie racial minorities' social identity threat wearing different face masks during COVID-19.

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Black and Asian, compared to White, people experienced unique social identity threats (SITs) while wearing face masks (Kahn & Money, 2022). This study examines specific racial stereotypes (criminality, foreignness, illness) and mask types (bandanas, surgical masks, maskless) that underlie SIT while wearing masks and their effect on safety.

Method: Black, Asian, and White participants ( = 591) completed a cross-sectional survey about SIT experiences wearing different face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: Results demonstrated that criminality, foreignness, and illness stereotypes each mediated the effects of race on SITs while masked. Criminality stereotypes were generally the strongest. Black individuals were most concerned with being stereotyped as criminals when wearing masks, particularly bandanas. Asian individuals feared being stereotyped as foreign while masked,mostly with surgical masks, compared to Black and White individuals. Black and Asian, compared to White, people reported fears of being perceived as ill with COVID-19 when wearing masks. In a parallel mediation, criminal stereotypes and SIT while masked mediated the relationship between race and anticipated interactions with police.

Conclusion: In the United States, Black and Asian individuals weigh concerns for their health along with safety in the face of race-based stereotypes that wearing masks prime. Racial minorities' safety during viral pandemics necessitates remediating these societal biases. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).