Perceived workplace and private life discrimination during legally mandated COVID-19 quarantine: Evidence from a large municipal cohort in Cologne, Germany.
6 affiliations
- 1Department for Physical Activity in Public Health, German Sports University, Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, Cologne, Germany.
- 2Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
- 3Formerly Cologne Health Department, Infektions- und Umwelthygiene, Cologne, Germany.
- 4Cologne Health Department, Infektions- und Umwelthygiene, Cologne, Germany.
- 5Augsburg District Health Department, Augsburg, Germany.
- 6Institute of Hygiene, University Hospital Muenster, Münster, Germany.
Abstract
Aim
During the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine measures were widely implemented and may have contributed to perceived discrimination. However, empirical evidence on its prevalence and associated factors remains limited. This study aimed to assess perceived discrimination in workplace and private contexts during quarantine and to identify associated factors.Methods
Data from 3,853 participants of the CoCo-Fact cohort study (Cologne Corona counselling and support for index and contact persons during the quarantine period) in Cologne, Germany were analysed. Perceived discrimination was assessed using a single-item measure (yes/partly/no), complemented by qualitative free-text responses. Logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors.Results
Perceived discrimination was reported by 5.3% of participants in the workplace and by 6.9% in private life. Workplace discrimination was primarily organisational or economic, while private-life discrimination was predominantly psychosocial. Associated factors included migrant background, higher psychological distress, and lower coping skills. Additional factors associated with private-life discrimination included younger age, higher socioeconomic status, and unemployment. The model explained 8.3% and 14.2% of the variance, respectively.Conclusion
Although overall prevalence was low, vulnerable groups were disproportionately affected. Findings highlight the need for targeted psychosocial and structural support measures in future public health crises.
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BibTeX
@article{sadiq2026perceived,
title = {{Perceived workplace and private life discrimination during legally mandated COVID-19 quarantine: Evidence from a large municipal cohort in Cologne, Germany.}},
author = {Sisai Sadiq and Sven Feddern and Anna Carlotta Graf and Barbara Grüne and Luis Haberstock and Annelene Kossow and Johannes Niessen and Susanne Rost and Nikola Schmidt and Gerhard A Wiesmüller and Christine Joisten},
journal = {GMS hygiene and infection control},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3205/dgkh000673},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923056},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Perceived workplace and private life discrimination during legally mandated COVID-19 quarantine: Evidence from a large municipal cohort in Cologne, Germany.
AU - Sisai Sadiq
AU - Sven Feddern
AU - Anna Carlotta Graf
AU - Barbara Grüne
AU - Luis Haberstock
AU - Annelene Kossow
AU - Johannes Niessen
AU - Susanne Rost
AU - Nikola Schmidt
AU - Gerhard A Wiesmüller
AU - Christine Joisten
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/07
JO - GMS hygiene and infection control
DO - 10.3205/dgkh000673
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42923056
AB - Aim During the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine measures were widely implemented and may have contributed to perceived discrimination. However, empirical evidence on its prevalence and associated factors remains limited. This study aimed to assess perceived discrimination in workplace and private contexts during quarantine and to identify associated factors.Methods Data from 3,853 participants of the CoCo-Fact cohort study (Cologne Corona counselling and support for index and contact persons during the quarantine period) in Cologne, Germany were analysed. Perceived discrimination was assessed using a single-item measure (yes/partly/no), complemented by qualitative free-text responses. Logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors.Results Perceived discrimination was reported by 5.3% of participants in the workplace and by 6.9% in private life. Workplace discrimination was primarily organisational or economic, while private-life discrimination was predominantly psychosocial. Associated factors included migrant background, higher psychological distress, and lower coping skills. Additional factors associated with private-life discrimination included younger age, higher socioeconomic status, and unemployment. The model explained 8.3% and 14.2% of the variance, respectively.Conclusion Although overall prevalence was low, vulnerable groups were disproportionately affected. Findings highlight the need for targeted psychosocial and structural support measures in future public health crises.
SN - 2196-5226
ER -