How Self-Stigma Fuels Negative Coping Strategies During COVID-19: Behavioral Pathways Through Negative Emotions and Motivational Impairment

From a social epidemiology perspective, this study examines self-stigma among COVID-19 quarantine populations and its influence on negative coping strategies. An online survey of 292 residents from quarantine and non-quarantine zones assessed self-stigma, negative emotions, inspirational motivation, and coping behaviors. Results showed that quarantined individuals experienced higher negative emotions and lower inspirational motivation than non-quarantined individuals. Self-stigma was positively linked to negative emotions and maladaptive coping, and negatively linked to inspirational motivation. Mediation analysis revealed that negative emotions and inspirational motivation partially explained the effect of self-stigma on negative coping strategies. These findings highlight self-stigma as a significant social determinant affecting emotional and behavioral responses during quarantine. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating stigma assessment into mental health monitoring and suggests implementing stigma-reduction interventions to enhance psychological resilience in pandemic settings.