Bats and humans have a close relationship based on cohabitation, with bats taking roost in buildings. It has been suggested that bats function as a reservoir of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the COVID-19 disease in humans. A misconception that bats can spread SARS-CoV-2 to humans may have increased negative emotions toward bats and reduced individuals’ acceptance of cohabitation with bats during the COVID-19 pandemic. By applying the disease avoidance model, we tested whether knowledge about bats would be associated with reduced negative emotions toward bats, which in turn would be associated with increased acceptance of cohabitation with bats. Moreover, we tested whether previous experiences of bats, perceived COVID-19 risk, age, gender and level of education would be associated with negative emotions and acceptance of bats. A quantitative survey (N=577) collected during the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland was analyzed with multiple linear regression. The results supported the disease avoidance model. Negative emotions toward bats reduced the acceptance of cohabitation with bats. However, knowledge about bats was associated with increased acceptance of bats both directly, as well as indirectly, via reduced negative emotions. Moreover, perceived COVID-19 risk was associated with increased negative emotions toward bats, and reduced acceptance of bats. Females were more likely than other respondents to report negative emotions, and reduced acceptance of cohabitation with bats. Prior experience of bats was associated with increased acceptance of bats as neighbors. These findings suggest that COVID-19 pandemic may threaten the existence of bats if no action is taken. The findings highlight the importance of correcting misunderstandings about non-human species as transmitters of diseases to humans.

中文翻译：

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疾病避免模型解释了在 COVID-19 大流行期间人们对与蝙蝠同居的接受程度


蝙蝠和人类有着基于同居关系的密切关系，蝙蝠栖息在建筑物中。有人认为，蝙蝠是导致人类感染 COVID-19 疾病的 SARS-CoV-2 病毒的储存库。认为蝙蝠可以将 SARS-CoV-2 传播给人类的误解可能增加了人们对蝙蝠的负面情绪，并降低了人们在 COVID-19 大流行期间与蝙蝠同居的接受度。通过应用疾病回避模型，我们测试了有关蝙蝠的知识是否会与减少对蝙蝠的负面情绪有关，而这反过来又会与增加对与蝙蝠同居的接受度有关。此外，我们还测试了之前接触过蝙蝠的经历、感知到的 COVID-19 风险、年龄、性别和教育水平是否与负面情绪和对蝙蝠的接受程度有关。采用多元线性回归分析了芬兰 COVID-19 大流行期间收集的定量调查 (N=577)。结果支持了疾病回避模型。对蝙蝠的负面情绪降低了人们对与蝙蝠同居的接受度。然而，对蝙蝠的了解与对蝙蝠的接受程度增加直接相关，也可以通过减少负面情绪间接地增加对蝙蝠的接受程度。此外，感知到的 COVID-19 风险与对蝙蝠的负面情绪增加和对蝙蝠的接受度降低有关。与其他受访者相比，女性更有可能报告负面情绪，并降低了对与蝙蝠同居的接受度。先前接触过蝙蝠的经历与人们越来越接受蝙蝠为邻居有关。这些发现表明，如果不采取行动，COVID-19 大流行可能会威胁蝙蝠的生存。 这些发现强调了纠正对非人类物种作为人类疾病传播者的误解的重要性。