Social distancing in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States
Nina B. Mastersa, Shu‐Fang Shihb, Allen Bukoffc, Kaitlyn B. Akela, Lindsay C. Kobayashia, Alison L. Millerd, Harapan Harapane f g, Yihan Luh, Abram Luther Wagnera✉
- aDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- bDepartment of Health Management & Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- cIndependent Consultant, Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States of America
- dDepartment of Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
- eDepartment of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- fMedical Research Unit, School of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- gTropical Disease Centre, School of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- hKey Laboratory of Public Health Safety (Ministry of Education), Department of Epidemiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
In order to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, much of the US was placed under social distancing guidelines during March 2020. We characterized risk perceptions and adherence to social distancing recommendations in March 2020 among US adults aged 18+ in an online survey with age and gender quotas to match the general US population (N = 713). We used multivariable logistic and linear regression to estimate associations between age (by generational cohort) and these outcomes. The median perceived risk of infection with COVID-19 within the next month was 32%, and 65% of individuals were practicing more social distancing than before the outbreak. Baby Boomers had lower perceived risk than Millennials (-10.6%, 95% CI: -16.2%, -5.0%), yet were more frequently social distancing (OR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.56). Public health outreach should focus on raising compliance with social distancing recommendations, especially among high risk groups. Efforts to address risk perceptions alone may be inadequate.
TL;DRBaby Boomers had lower perceived risk than Millennials, yet were more frequently social distanced, and public health outreach should focus on raising compliance with social distancing recommendations, especially among high risk groups. (Semantic Scholar)