Table 4 Pearson’s correlation coefficients of each item of stigma scale with total score and between participant answers in the 1st and 2nd time

1. I feel shy and ashamed of my infection with coronavirus

0.47

<0.001**

0.86

<0.001**

2. I am frustrated and disappointed because of my infection in coronavirus.

0.58

<0.001**

0.89

<0.001**

3. I feel like an unwanted person.

0.40

0.004**

0.80

<0.001**

4. I feel rejected by others because of my illness

0.46

<0.001*

0.83

<0.001**

5. I feel that being infected with coronavirus is a punishment for something I did in the past.

0.39

0.006*

0.74

<0.001**

6. Having corona makes me feel inferior and less than others.

0.50

<0.001**

0.91

<0.001**

7. Having corona harms the reputation of my family

0.36

0.01*

0.72

<0.001**

8. I am afraid of being refused and not accepted by my co-workers.

0.63

<0.001**

0.89

<0.001**

9. I will be isolated and away from others to avoid being mistreated

0.52

<0.001**

0.73

<0.001**

10. I am afraid that I will lose my work because of my infection.

0.47

<0.001**

0.79

<0.001**

11. I am afraid that my family will stay away from me because of my infection.

0.49

<0.001**

0.81

<0.001**

12. I am afraid of being avoided by my neighbors in the house because of my infection.

0.52

<0.001**

0.88

<0.001**

13. I was late in seeking treatment for fear that someone would know that I had corona.

0.48

<0.001**

0.85

<0.001**

14. I feel that it is a must to hide the news of my infection from others.

0.62

<0.001**

0.92

<0.001**

Total

–

–

0.89

<0.001**