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New survey focuses on COVID-19 behaviors and beliefs

Posted at 1:29 PM, Jul 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-29 17:09:07-04

A new survey report issued last month from a national COVID-19 research group revealed stark differences between the behaviors and beliefs of residents across U.S. states.

The Risk and Social Policy Working Group, interdisciplinary group of public health, public policy, psychology, political science and communication researchers from across the U.S.,examined how individuals perceive the risks associated with COVID-19, as well as how they respond through their behaviors and adherence to policies such as mask-wearing or stay-at-home orders.

The researchers conducted the first of a three-wave panel survey of individuals residing in Colorado, Massachusetts, Iowa, Washington, Louisiana and Michigan.

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These states were chosen to capture variation in the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, risk reduction policies, and demographic and social factors.

Overall, data compiled from across all six states found:

- While most people say their physical health is about the same as it was before the pandemic, 25 percent say their mental health has gotten worse.

- Despite CDC reports to the contrary, individuals think that there is about a 28 percent chance they will get COVID-19. If they contract the disease, they believe there is a 34 percent chance they will get seriously ill and a 22 percent chance they will die.

- Individuals worry about money more than most other issues, saying there is a 28 percent chance they will run out of money due to COVID-19.

- 66 percent of individuals say they always wear a mask in public indoor spaces.

The report summarizing key findings from across all six states can be found here.

Results from the second survey will be available mid-August.