Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41223266›Full record

SynthesisScience advances2025

Drivers of health polarization during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review.

María Camacho-García, Maribel Serrano-Macías, Esther Ortega-Martin, Javier Alvarez-Galvez

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Science advances, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Partisan differences in health behaviors can impact respiratory disease dynamics.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026
    Article
  6. Review
  7. Knowledge and Preventive Practices Toward COVID-19 Among Sex Workers in Chiang Mai, Thailand.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

María Camacho-GarcíaCS2 DataLab, University Institute for Sustainable Social Development, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID 0009-0009-0506-914X
Maribel Serrano-MacíasCS2 DataLab, University Institute for Sustainable Social Development, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.
Esther Ortega-MartinCS2 DataLab, University Institute for Sustainable Social Development, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-5182-1824
Javier Alvarez-GalvezCS2 DataLab, University Institute for Sustainable Social Development, University of Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-9512-7853

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Health polarization has emerged as a critical factor shaping public health attitudes and behaviors, particularly during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides a systematic review of the key determinants driving health polarization, highlighting the complex interplay of political, social, economic, and psychological factors. By synthesizing findings from 90 studies, we identify six primary drivers: political ideology and partisanship, misinformation and disinformation, social media structures and dynamics, trust in health institutions and professionals, risk and public health perceptions, and socioeconomic factors. Our analysis reveals how these determinants reinforce societal divisions, exacerbate health inequalities, and influence adherence to public health measures. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of these findings for designing effective interventions that address the root causes of health polarization. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these divisions is essential for mitigating their negative impact on public health and fostering more cohesive, evidence-based health communication strategies.

Indexed as

COVID-19Public HealthCommunicationHumansPandemicsPoliticsSARS-CoV-2Social MediaSocioeconomic FactorsTrust

Identifiers

PMID41223266
PMCPMC12609054

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.