Partisanship, health behavior, and policy attitudes in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 16(4), P. e0249596 - e0249596

Published: April 7, 2021

To study the U.S. public's health behaviors, attitudes, and policy opinions about COVID-19 in earliest weeks of national crisis (March 20-23, 2020).We designed fielded an original representative survey 3,000 American adults between March 2020 to collect data on a battery 38 health-related government preferences response worries pandemic. We test for partisan differences related attitudes measured three different ways: party affiliation, intended Presidential vote, self-placed ideological positioning. Our multivariate approach adjusts wide range individual demographic geographic characteristics that might confound relationship partisanship preferences.We find partisanship-measured as identification, support President Trump, or left-right positioning-explains Americans across behaviors preferences. no consistent evidence controlling news consumption, local environment, pandemic-related deaths erases observed beliefs, attitudes. In further analyses, we use LASSO regression select predictors, indicator is most commonly selected predictor dependent variables study.Our analysis self-reported behavior, reveals played central role shaping responses months These results indicate responding public emergency were entrenched from days

Language: Английский

---

Mask-wearing and control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the USA: a cross-sectional study

The Lancet Digital Health, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 3(3), P. e148 - e157

Published: Jan. 19, 2021

Face masks have become commonplace across the USA because of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic. Although evidence suggests that help to curb spread disease, there is little empirical research at population level. We investigate association between self-reported mask-wearing, physical distancing, and SARS-CoV-2 transmission in USA, along with effect statewide mandates on mask uptake.Serial cross-sectional surveys were administered via a web platform randomly surveyed US individuals aged 13 years older, query self-reports face mask-wearing. Survey responses combined instantaneous reproductive number (Rt) estimates from two publicly available sources, outcome interest. Measures community demographics, other potential sources confounding (from sources) also assessed. fitted multivariate logistic regression models estimate mask-wearing control (Rt<1). Additionally, 12 states was evaluated weeks before after mandates.378 207 responded survey June 3 July 27, 2020, which 4186 excluded for missing data. observed an increasing trend reported usage although uptake varied by geography. A model controlling variables found 10% increase associated increased odds (odds ratio 3·53, 95% CI 2·03-6·43). communities high distancing had highest predicted probability control. Segmented analysis showed no statistically significant change slope introduced; however, upward preserved.The widespread use increases Self-reported separately government mandates, suggesting supplemental public health interventions are needed maximise adoption ongoing epidemic.Flu Lab, Google.org (via Tides Foundation), National Institutes Health, Science Foundation, Morris-Singer MOOD, Branco Weiss Fellowship, Ending Pandemics, Centers Disease Control Prevention (USA).

Language: Английский

---

Politicizing the Mask: Political, Economic and Demographic Factors Affecting Mask Wearing Behavior in the USA

Eastern Economic Journal, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 47(2), P. 163 - 183

Published: Jan. 5, 2021

Language: Английский

---

Assessing COVID-19 pandemic policies and behaviours and their economic and educational trade-offs across US states from Jan 1, 2020, to July 31, 2022: an observational analysis

The Lancet, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 401(10385), P. 1341 - 1360

Published: March 23, 2023

BackgroundThe USA struggled in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, but not all states equally. Identifying factors associated with cross-state variation infection and mortality rates could help improve responses this future pandemics. We sought answer five key policy-relevant questions regarding following: 1) what roles social, economic, racial inequities had interstate outcomes; 2) whether greater health-care public health capacity better 3) how politics influenced results; 4) that imposed more policy mandates sustained them longer 5) there were trade-offs between a state having fewer cumulative SARS-CoV-2 infections total deaths its economic educational outcomes.MethodsData disaggregated by US extracted from databases, including estimates Institute for Health Metrics Evaluation's (IHME) database; Bureau of Economic Analysis data on gross domestic product (GDP); Federal Reserve employment rates; National Center Education Statistics student standardised test scores; Census race ethnicity state. population density death age prevalence major comorbidities facilitate comparison states' successes mitigating effects COVID-19. regressed these outcomes prepandemic characteristics (such as attainment spending per capita), policies adopted during pandemic mask business closures), population-level behavioural vaccine coverage mobility). explored potential mechanisms connecting state-level individual-level behaviours using linear regression. quantified reductions GDP, employment, scores identify assess outcomes. Significance was defined p<0·05.FindingsStandardised period Jan 1, 2020, July 31, 2022 varied across (national rate 372 100 000 [95% uncertainty interval [UI] 364–379]), lowest Hawaii (147 [127–196]) New Hampshire (215 [183–271]) highest Arizona (581 [509–672]) Washington, DC (526 [425–631]). A lower poverty rate, higher mean number years education, proportion people expressing interpersonal trust statistically rates, where larger percentages Black (non-Hispanic) or Hispanic rates. Access quality care (measured IHME's Healthcare Quality Index) infections, personnel capita not, at level. The political affiliation governor worse state's voters who voted 2020 Republican presidential candidate. State governments' uses protective use, mobility, vaccination while GDP reading COVD-19 responses, Employment, however, significant relationship restaurant closures deaths: average, 1574 (95% UI 884–7107) additional 10 one percentage point increase rate. Several fourth-grade mathematics scores, our study results did find link school closures.InterpretationCOVID-19 magnified polarisation persistent already existed society, next threat need do same. mitigated those structural inequalities, deployed science-based interventions such targeted mandates, promoted their adoption society able match best-performing nations minimising These findings contribute design targeting clinical crises.FundingBill & Melinda Gates Foundation, J Stanton, T Gillespie, E Nordstrom, Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Language: Английский

---

Politicization of COVID-19 health-protective behaviors in the United States: Longitudinal and cross-national evidence

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 16(10), P. e0256740 - e0256740

Published: Oct. 20, 2021

During the initial phase of COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. conservative politicians and media downplayed risk both contracting effectiveness recommended health behaviors. Health behavior theories suggest perceived vulnerability to a threat health-protective behaviors determine motivation follow recommendations. Accordingly, we predicted that-as result politicization pandemic-politically Americans would be less likely enact In two longitudinal studies residents, political conservatism was inversely associated with adoption over time. The effects orientation on were mediated by infection, severity global cross-national analysis, stronger in (N = 10,923) than an international sample (total N 51,986), highlighting increased overt

Language: Английский

---

Involvement of political and socio-economic factors in the spatial and temporal dynamics of COVID-19 outcomes in Brazil: A population-based study

The Lancet Regional Health - Americas, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10, P. 100221 - 100221

Published: March 14, 2022

Brazil has been severely impacted by COVID-19 pandemics that is aggravated the absence of a scientifically-driven coordinated informative campaign and interference in public health management, which ultimately affected measures to avoid SARS-CoV2 spread. The decentralization resultant conflicts disease control activities produced different protection behaviours local government measures. In present study, we investigated how political partisanship socio-economic factors determined outcome at level Brazil.A retrospective study deaths was carried out using mortality databases between Feb 2020, Jun 2021 for 5570 Brazilian municipalities. Socio-economic parameters including city categories, income inequality indexes, service quality partisanship, assessed result second round 2018 presidential elections, were included. Regression tree analysis identify statistical significance conditioning relationships variables.Municipalities supported then-candidate Jair Bolsonaro elections those had worst rates, mainly during epidemic wave 2021. This pattern observed even considering structural inequalities among cities.In general, first phase pandemic hit large central cities hardest, while mostly Bolsonarian municipalities, where scientific denialism population stronger. Negative effects towards right-wing on outcomes counterbalances favourable socioeconomic indexes affluent cities. Our results underscore fragility policies undermined supporters Brazil.International joint laboratories Institute de Recherche pour le Développement, partnership University Brasília Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (LMI-Sentinela - UnB Fiocruz IRD), Coordination Improvement Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), National Council Scientific Technological Development (CNPq).

Language: Английский

---

Belief in Science Influences Physical Distancing in Response to COVID-19 Lockdown Policies

SSRN Electronic Journal, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2020

Physical distancing reduces transmission risks and slows the spread of COVID-19. Yet compliance with shelter-in-place policies issued by local regional governments in United States was uneven may have been influenced science skepticism attitudes towards topics scientific consensus. Using county-day measures physical derived from cellphone location data, we demonstrate that proportion people who stayed at home after went into effect March April 2020 significantly lower counties a high concentration skeptics. These results are robust to controlling for other potential drivers differential distancing, such as political partisanship, income, education COVID severity. Our findings suggest public health interventions take toward account their messaging be more effective.

Language: Английский

---

Anticipation of COVID-19 vaccines reduces willingness to socially distance

Journal of Health Economics, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 80, P. 102530 - 102530

Published: Sept. 15, 2021

We investigate how the anticipation of COVID-19 vaccines affects voluntary social distancing. In a large-scale preregistered survey experiment with representative sample, we study whether providing information about safety, effectiveness, and availability willingness to comply public health guidelines. find that vaccine reduces peoples' distancing, adherence hygiene guidelines, their stay at home. Getting positive on induces people believe in swifter return normal life. The results indicate an important behavioral drawback successful development: An increased focus can lower compliance guidelines accelerate spread infectious disease. imply that, as vaccinations roll out end pandemic feels closer, policies aimed increasing distancing will be less effective, stricter might required.

Language: Английский

---

All States Close but Red Districts Reopen: The Politics of In-Person Schooling During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Educational Researcher, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 50(9), P. 637 - 648

Published: Sept. 24, 2021

How did political factors and public health affect state local education decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially continuation of in-person schooling? Using an original data set policies, we find that governors ordered school closures in spring 2020 but left to districts fall, regardless partisanship. Analyzing district reopening plans, however, were more tied partisanship union strength than severity. Republicans also favorable Democrats toward learning. States’ leave plans their opened way for influence

Language: Английский

---

The Association Between COVID-19 Mortality And The County-Level Partisan Divide In The United States

Health Affairs, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 41(6), P. 853 - 863

Published: June 1, 2022

Partisan differences in attitudes toward the COVID-19 pandemic and appropriateness of local policies requiring masks, social distancing, vaccines are apparent United States. Previous research suggests that areas with a higher Republican vote share may experience more mortality, potentially as consequence these differences. In this observational study captured data from majority US counties, we compared number deaths through October 31, 2021, among counties differing levels share, using 2020 presidential election returns to characterize county political affiliation. Our analyses controlled for demographic characteristics determinants likely influence transmission outcomes state fixed effects. We found positive dose-response relationship between county-level mortality. Majority experienced 72.9 additional per 100,000 people relative Democratic during period, vaccine uptake explains approximately 10 percent difference. findings suggest voting behavior act proxy compliance support public health measures would protect residents COVID-19.

Language: Английский

---