COVID-19 stigma and mental health: Who hid their illness, who shared and why it still matters

Perceived COVID stigma and fear of disclosure were greater among females, younger people and for nonwhite respondents.
Perceived COVID stigma decreased with age with 40% of 35-to-44-year-olds being most affected by negative stigma and nearly 23% of people 65 and older being least affected. At 39%, 18-to-24-year-olds were a close second in highest percentage for perceived COVID stigma.
Perceived COVID stigma was most prevalent among non-Hispanic Black respondents, 43%. Fear of COVID disclosure to friends or family was most prevalent among Hispanic respondents at 31%.
Perceived COVID stigma was more common among respondents with lower household income, those who were employed and respondents who had nonprivate health insurance.
The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among respondents with COVID stigma was twice as high as the prevalence of those symptoms among respondents without COVID stigma.