Impact of National Pandemic Lockdowns on Perceived Threat of Immigrants: A Natural Quasi-Experiment Across 23 Countries

Xenophobia and anti-immigrant attacks rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet this may not be solely due to disease threat. According theories of frustration scapegoating, situational obstructions deprivation can motivate prejudice against outgroups. Using a global natural quasi-experimental design, study tests whether restrictiveness national lockdowns explain higher individual-level perceptions immigrant Data 45,894 participants from 23 countries were analyzed. Both lockdown duration severity positively associated with individuals’ perceived threat immigrants. The effects independent objective subjective measures threat, there was no evidence that drives people’s toward Subgroup analysis suggested reliable in Europe Americas, but Asia. These findings suggest need mitigate scapegoating when implementing lockdowns, distinguish influence societal restrictions