What is it about?

We surveyed three large, nationally representative samples of Americans, between mid-March and mid-April 2020. Most respondents reported taking measures to protect themselves and others, with higher rates among those who saw greater risks. Females, older, Black, and Hispanic Americans generally saw greater risks and did more to reduce them. There was broad support for investing in public health, financially helping people who were quarantined or lost wages, and sharing "honest, accurate information about the situation (even if that information worries people)."

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Why is it important?

Early in the pandemic, most Americans had gotten the message about the threat, done things to reduce it, and supported public health policies.

Perspectives

When asked, Americans revealed good understanding of the pandemic and voluntary health behaviors. The professional community might ask what more we could have done to preserve those shared perspectives.

Baruch Fischhoff
Carnegie Mellon University

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Risk perceptions and health behaviors as COVID-19 emerged in the United States: Results from a probability-based nationally representative sample., Journal of Experimental Psychology Applied, December 2021, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/xap0000374.
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