Health Outcomes: Facts & Figures
Even this far into the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing masks is still a hot-button issue in various areas across the country, according to a new study by Embee Mobile and the University of California Berkeley. More than half, or 52 percent, of the study’s panelists admitted to not always wearing masks as recommended by public health officials. The impact of simply not wearing a mask is compounded when taking the beliefs and behavior of this group into consideration. Not only are non-mask wearers traveling significantly more than mask-wearers, but this group of people is 181 percent more likely to believe that COVID-19-related restrictions are too strict and 73 percent more likely to have attended an event with more than 10 people in the last two weeks. Non-mask wearers are also 64 percent more likely to say they will definitely not get a vaccine when one becomes available, 39 percent more likely to identify as politically conservative, and 21 percent less likely to closely follow the news
Overall, 21 percent of the survey panelists identified as conservative, while moderates made up 40 percent of the panel. Looking specifically at those who identify as conservative, researchers found that they were more likely to take risks with their health, and the health of others, during the pandemic due to their behavior and beliefs, as compared to other panelists. This group of people was 206 percent more likely to believe that COVID-19-related restrictions are too strict; 154 percent more likely to never wear a mask while socializing; and 123 percent more likely to believe that the government should not mandate masks. Additionally, the self-identified conservatives in the study were 70 percent more likely to say they will definitely not get vaccinated; 39 percent more likely to believe that social distancing does not stop the spread; and 20 percent more likely to believe that businesses can’t survive social distancing.
Prior to the pandemic vaccination and its potential risks was already a divisive issue, and that has carried over into conversations about the various COVID-19 vaccines that are now being administered. The willingness to get vaccinated decreased between Embee and Berkley’s August and October surveys, as 30 percent initially reported they would definitely be getting vaccinated but only 20 percent did so subsequently. In total, more than one-third (34 percent) of survey panelists reported that they will not likely get a COVID-19 vaccine. According to the survey, this group of people is 52 percent more likely to be women with at least one child under the age of six; 66 percent more likely to identify as politically conservative; and 48 percent more likely to say they can’t endure the economic impact of the pandemic any more. Also, 57 percent of this group were more likely to say religion is very important in their life.
More than one out of every five survey panelists (22 percent) reported that they could no longer endure the negative economic impact that the pandemic has had on their lives. Alarmingly, researchers say that things will only get worse for this group with homelessness, depression, and the breakdown of household relationships coming into play. This group of people was 447 percent more likely to report they have an unstable place of residence; 173 percent more likely to be significantly impacted by transit cuts; and 111 percent more likely to report their relationship with their household has worsened. They were also 103 percent more likely to screen positive for depression, and 70 percent more likely to not have health insurance.
While many are moving out of large metropolitan areas to areas where they can have more space, the reality is that more households are moving for reasons of economic precarity. The national average for moving is 10 percent annually according to the U.S. Census Bureau; yet 12 percent of survey panelists said they had moved since the pandemic began in March 2020. This group of people was 151 percent more likely to suspect they have been infected by COVID-19; 81 percent more likely to not have health insurance; and 26 percent more likely to be unable to pay bills if an emergency expense of $400 comes up.
With more people working from home due to the pandemic, cuts to public transportation have followed. Unfortunately, those who are affected by transit cuts – many of whom are seeking employment – become more vulnerable in a number of ways. Fifteen percent of survey panelists report they have been impacted by transit cuts; this group of people is 143 percent more likely to have no household vehicle access and 48 percent more likely to be people of color. Those impacted by transit cuts are also 36 percent more likely to have experienced decreased income since August; 19 percent more likely to be caring for an elderly or disabled person; and 16 percent less likely to be female.
“The preliminary data from our COVID-19 research suggests there’s an axis of pain and an axis of non-compliance,” says Dr. Raja Sengupta, a professor at UC Berkeley and director of its Smart Pandemic Management Group. “People suffering economically suffer in other ways, as with a group of people who are being so disproportionately hurt as we speak that they are in desperate need of immediate and substantive relief. This data should be used to better target stimulus need beyond just income, taking the other economic indicators into consideration such as instability in housing, dependence on transit, and the absence of wealth.
“The data also suggests an axis of non-compliance in pandemic behavior, in which those who are non-compliant in one way, are non-compliant in many ways. This explains why pandemic management is more effective when done with community organizations that know their community. Perhaps a small group of people spread the disease by being vulnerable behaviorally, or by virtue of their work and housing. To hunt the virus, you have to understand the people in your community and our research will help communities do this.”
Source: “The changing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals and households in the U.S.”, Embee Mobile and the University of California Berkeley.
