Abstract

AMADOR LEAL GONZALEZ, Belinda. Presidential Approval and Concern over COVID-19 in Mexico. Rev. mex. opinión pública [online]. 2023, n.34, pp.59-86.  Epub Dec 09, 2023. ISSN 2448-4911.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fcpys.24484911e.2023.34.84241.

Several studies have found that sympathy with the incumbent affects perceptions of the pandemic. In countries with presidents who downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus, government sympathizers report less concern about the disease. Then, we expect to observe a negative relationship between sympathy for the president and concern about COVID in these countries. In this text, I analyze the effect of presidential approval, as specific support, on the perceived severity of coronavirus disease in Mexico in contrast to Latin America. Using Americas Barometer surveys, I present three relevant results. First, I find that those who evaluate López Obrador’s job better report less concern about COVID than those who evaluate him worse. Second, for the average Latin American, a positive evaluation of the president is associated with more significant concern about COVID, but the opposite effect occurs in Mexico and Brazil. Third, in Mexico, measures of diffuse evaluation do not affect the perceived severity of COVID-19, while in Latin America, they are associated with greater concern.

Keywords : COVID perceptions; presidential approvement; public opinion; Latin America.