Trajectory of Attitudes Toward Individuals with a History of COVID ‐19 Infection: A 4‐year Cohort Study in Japan

Abstract

This study used panel survey data to conduct a time‐series cluster analysis of public avoidance and care attitudes toward individuals with a history of COVID‐19 infection from July 2020 to March 2024. The analysis also examined the associations between attitude trajectories and initial characteristics, which were categorized into three groups: COVID‐19‐related sociopsychological characteristics, individual differences in sensitivity to infectious diseases, and sociodemographic factors. Based on data from 309 participants in a panel survey conducted in Japan, the analysis showed that overall public avoidance of individuals with a history of COVID‐19 infection declined throughout the pandemic. Four distinct trajectories of avoidance attitudes were identified: higher, downward, moderate, and lower clusters. Participants with a stronger belief in just deserts and a younger age tended to have higher avoidance attitudes. However, those in the downward cluster, despite strong belief in just deserts, showed a decrease in avoidance attitudes over time. Women were more likely to belong to the lower cluster. These findings highlight the importance of investigating the factors associated with long‐term patterns of public attitudes during prolonged public health crises.