Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Jack BirchORCiD, Dr Fiona GrahamORCiD, Professor Emily OliverORCiD, Professor Clare BambraORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2025 The Authors. Recent evidence suggests an increasing backlash towards government-led public health interventions in the areas of vaccination, climate change, sexual and reproductive healthcare, and non-pharmaceutical infection control measures. One potential driver of resistance may be the evidenced rise in populist politics and attitudes in many countries over the last two decades. To better understand people's views and perspectives on the relationship between these two phenomena, we present qualitative evidence from a systematic review examining how populist-style attitudes may affect the receipt and impact of public health interventions. Focusing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, we thematically synthesise 52 papers to construct a conceptual framework. This outlines (i) how existing populist-type views can find a new mode of expression in and/or be amplified by public health interventions and emergencies; (ii) the processes through which populist-type views may influence others' attitudes towards the receipt of public health interventions; and (iii) how populist-informed non-adherence to public health interventions affects social unity. From a policy perspective, the findings from this review suggest the need for public health communications to be more effective in combating misinformation, and for key messengers to be more nuanced and transparent in their approaches to engaging the public, including by recognising and responding directly to people's concerns. There is also evidence of the need to involve and engage with diverse members of the population in developing public health messaging, and for politicians to lead by example, adhering to the standards they expect of others. PROSPERO registration number CRD42024513124.
Author(s): Conway-Moore K, McKinlay AR, Birch JM, Graham F, Oliver EJ, Bambra C, Kelly MP, Bonell C
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Social Science and Medicine
Year: 2025
Volume: 381
Print publication date: 01/09/2025
Online publication date: 06/06/2025
Acceptance date: 04/06/2025
ISSN (print): 0277-9536
ISSN (electronic): 1873-5347
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118312
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118312
Data Access Statement: Data will be made available on request.
