Abstract

Background: Sociodemographic factors such as age, race, education, family income, and sex have been reported to influence COVID-related perceptions, reflected by knowledge, stress, and preventive behavior. We conducted a US-based survey to estimate the difference in COVID-related perceptions among diverse sociodemographic groups and the influence of sociodemographic heterogeneity on COVID-related perceptions. Methods: The survey enquired about sociodemographic parameters and relevant information to measure knowledge, stress, and preventive behavior. COVID-perception scores among sociodemographic subgroups were compared with ANOVA (Bonferroni). The general linear model (GLM) was used to estimate the association among sociodemographic factors and COVID-related perceptions. Results: Females (75%) and White participants (78%) were the predominant (N = 3734). Females, White participants, wealthy, and educated participants demonstrated better knowledge, while participants of minority races, younger ages, low incomes, and females experienced high stress. Females, African-Americans, and educated participants better adopted preventive behaviors. Race, family income, and sex were the highest contributors to the predictive model. Sociodemographic determinants had statistically significant associations with knowledge (F-score = 7.72, p < 0.001; foremost predictor: race), stress (F-score = 16.46, p < 0.001; foremost predictor: income), and preventive behavior (GLM: F-score = 7.72, p < 0.001, foremost predictor: sex). Conclusion: Sociodemographic heterogeneity significantly influenced COVID-related perceptions, while race, family income, and sex were the strongest determinants of COVID-related perceptions.

Highlights

  • SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus that can lead to the development of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020 [1]

  • The survey was built in Redcap to test three unique outcome measures related to the perception of COVID-19: knowledge, stress, and preventive behaviors [28]

  • Distribution of sociodemographic factors: We received 4183 responses, of which we included 3734 adult participants who resided in the USA

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Summary

Introduction

SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus that can lead to the development of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020 [1]. Strategies to mitigate the spread of the virus have been focused on preventive behaviors, including hand hygiene, mask-wearing, social distancing, and closing down large sectors of society at the peak of the pandemic worldwide [2]. Sociodemographic factors such as age, race, education, family income, and sex have been reported to influence COVID-related perceptions, reflected by knowledge, stress, and preventive behavior. Sociodemographic determinants had statistically significant associations with knowledge (F-score = 7.72, p < 0.001; foremost predictor: race), stress (F-score = 16.46, p < 0.001; foremost predictor: income), and preventive behavior (GLM: F-score = 7.72, p < 0.001, foremost predictor: sex)

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