Reconsidering Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 — Examining the Role of Individualism

This article explores how individualistic cultural frameworks in the U.S. may exacerbate racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes. The authors argue that an emphasis on personal responsibility can obscure the structural determinants of health and limit effective public health messaging. They advocate for integrating collectivist perspectives to improve health equity and public health response, especially in marginalized communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

This article explores how individualistic cultural frameworks in the U.S. may exacerbate racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 outcomes. The authors argue that an emphasis on personal responsibility can obscure the structural determinants of health and limit effective public health messaging. They advocate for integrating collectivist perspectives to improve health equity and public health response, especially in marginalized communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic.