Political polarization in US residents’ COVID-19 risk perceptions, policy preferences, and protective behaviors

Abstract

When the novel coronavirus entered the US, most US states implemented lockdown measures. In April–May 2020, state governments started political discussions about whether it would be worth the risk to reduce protective measures. In a highly politicized environment, risk perceptions and preferences for risk mitigation may vary by political inclinations. In April–May 2020, we surveyed a nationally representative sample of 5517 members of the University of Southern California’s Understanding America Study. Of those, 37% identified as Democrats, 32% as Republican, and 31% as Third Party/Independent. Overall, Democrats perceived more risk associated with COVID-19 than Republicans, including for getting infected, being hospitalized and dying if infected, as well as running out of money as a result of the pandemic. Democrats were also more likely than Republicans to express concerns that states would lift economic restrictions too quickly, and to report mask use and social distancing. Generally, participants who identified as Third Party/Independent fell in between. Democrats were more likely to report watching MSNBC or CNN (vs. not), while Republicans were more likely to report watching Fox News (vs. not), and Third Party/Independents tended to watch neither. However, political inclinations predicted reported policy preferences, mask use, and social distancing, in analyses that accounted for differences in use of media sources, risk perceptions, and demographic background. In these analyses, participants’ reported media use added to the partisan divide in preferences for the timing of lifting economic restrictions and reported protective behaviors. Implications for risk communication are discussed. Supplementary Information The online version of this article (10.1007/s11166-020-09336-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy in the United States: A Rapid National Assessment

“…Throughout the pandemic, COVID-19 risk perception and mitigation have been discussed and explored via a variety of national polls and studies keeping in mind sociodemographic factors and political affiliation [ 17 , 18 , 24 , 27 ]. For example, the wearing of face masks became a divisive issue and ended up becoming a “culture war” with a greater divide in compliance based on gender, age, and political affiliation [ 24 , 27 ]. Even while the trials for the COVID-19 vaccine were going on worldwide, many Americans did not believe COVID-19 was a serious problem or the topmost concern in the country.…”

“…Even while the trials for the COVID-19 vaccine were going on worldwide, many Americans did not believe COVID-19 was a serious problem or the topmost concern in the country. Republicans, Democrats, and other participants in polls and studies differed in their opinion with certain groups less likely to believe in the seriousness of COVID-19, the efficacy of masks, scientific guidance on controlling the pandemic, and willingness to take a COVID-19 vaccine when it became available [ 4 , 6 , 17 , 18 , 24 , 27 ]. To reach the levels of reasonable herd immunity or for successful mass COVID-19 immunization, tailored and community-based interventions that can address the political divide and risk perception differences will be needed along with the plans to distribute the COVID-19 vaccines.…”

“…Several key recommendations are offered for communicating information about COVID-19 vaccines with the general population, and in particular, populations having high vaccine hesitancy. Communication strategies and techniques to be used during the ongoing pandemic should be transparent and honest, accurate and truthful, multimodal and frequent, inclusive and have partnerships with community members and healthcare professionals, able to acknowledge the uncertainty and quickly changing guidance, focusing on the engagement of official entities and scientific sources, avoiding partisan or motivated messages, create a sense of shared and bipartisan support for preventive behaviors and vaccines, able to use role models and respectable public figures, and combat misinformation, myths, misperceptions, and conspiracy theories [ 4 , 6 , 8 – 10 , 12 , 21 , 23 , 27 ]. After scientific validation, policymakers must develop and endorse policies and environmental support systems that foster the promotion of COVID-19 vaccination programs.…”

Quantifying the Resilience of the U.S. Domestic Aviation Network During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…We used data collected in the American Community Survey (ACS) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019) to estimate county-level household income as well as income inequality. We included political leanings in our model because, in a survey of more than 5,000 individuals, de Bruin et al (2020) found that self-identified Democrats were more likely to cancel planned air travel in response to concerns of COVID-19. This behavior suggests that personal politics could indicate changes in air travel patterns.…”

Economic lessons for COVID‐19 pandemic policies

“…Perceptions of the COVID‐19 risk and the efficacy of precautions are strongly correlated with political beliefs (de Bruin et al . 2020). For some, individual freedom is an absolute right that can never be compromised.…”