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Research ArticleOriginal Research

Perspectives of US Youth During Initial Month of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Eric Waselewski, Marika Waselewski, Chloe Harper, Sarah Dickey, Sue Anne Bell and Tammy Chang
The Annals of Family Medicine March 2021, 19 (2) 141-147; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2642
Eric Waselewski
1University of Michigan Department of Internal Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
MD
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Marika Waselewski
2University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
MPH
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  • For correspondence: marikag@med.umich.edu
Chloe Harper
3Skyline High School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Sarah Dickey
4University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Sue Anne Bell
4University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan
5University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
PhD, FNP-BC
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Tammy Chang
2University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan
5University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, Ann Arbor, Michigan
MD, MPH, MS
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Tables

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    Table 1

    Demographic Characteristics of Respondents on Either March 6, 2020 or March 20, 2020 (N = 1,087)

    CharacteristicAll Respondents
    Age, mean (SD), y18.9 (2.8)
    Sex, No. (%)
        Male429 (39.5)
        Female561 (51.6)
        Other sex97 (8.9)
    Race/Ethnicity, No. (%)
        Non-Hispanic White605 (55.8)
        Non-Hispanic Black99 (9.1)
        Hispanic143 (13.2)
        Non-Hispanic other238 (21.9)
    Education level, No. (%)
        Less than high schoola392 (36.1)
        High school grad172 (15.8)
        Some college or tech school311 (28.6)
        Associate’s or tech grad37 (3.4)
        Bachelor’s degree or higher175 (16.1)
    Region, No. (%)
        Midwest393 (36.2)
        Northeast169 (15.5)
        South300 (27.6)
        West225 (20.7)
    HS free or reduced lunch, No. (%)
        Yes404 (37.5)
        No672 (62.5)
    • HS = high school; SD = standard deviation

    • ↵aIncludes participants still in high school.

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    Table 2

    Youth Knowledge of COVlD-19 and Sources of Information on March 6, 2020 (N = 1,043)

    Question, ThemeaNo. (%)Example Quote
    What do you know about coronavirus or COVID-19? Where did you hear that?
    Types of information known
    COVID-19 knowledge732 (70.2)
    Disease characteristics407 (55.6)“It has about a 2% fatality rate thus far.…”
    “It’s a virus. Its symptoms are fever, cough, and chest issues.”
    Contagiousness365 (49.9)“…it’s spreading rapidly…”
    “…it is very contagious and spread through droplets in the air.”
    Origin or disease location316 (43.2)“It is in the United States and originated in China.”
    Susceptibility characteristics166 (22.7)“it mostly seems to kill the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions.”
    “I know fatality is low for my age.”
    No COVID-19 knowledge44 (4.2)“I don’t know anything.”
    Perception of COVID-19
    Severe or deadly222 (21.3)“I know that people are dying.…”
    Not severe134 (12.8)“The infection rates are low, and fatality rates are even lower.”
    Source of information
    News480 (46.0)“The news is everywhere.”
    “…news outlets such as CNN Fox News CBS.…”
    Social media177 (17.0)“…Twitter, Reddit, CNN”
    “Heard about it on Instagram first.…”
    Friends and family124 (11.9)“…hearing from family and friends.”
    “I know a lot about it as my mom has been non-stop feeding me information.”
    Government or academia89 (8.5)“I read every article from the CDC, the WHO, and stats.com.”
    “I’ve kept up-to-date on COVID-19 through the legitimate sources we should be trusting, the CDC and WHO.”
    School88 (8.4)“…I heard that from a teacher at school.”
    “…a lot of school emails”
    • CBS = Columbia Broadcasting System; CDC = Centers for Disease Control; CNN = Cable News Network; COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019; WHO = World Health Organization.

    • ↵aTotals may not add to 100% because codes are not mutually exclusive.

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    Table 3

    Shift in Youth Perspectives of COV1D-19 Impact, Worry, and Preparation Measures During March 2020

    Question, ThemeaMarch 6 No.1 (%)March 20 No.2 (%)Example Quotes
    How has the current coronavirus situation impacted you, if at all? (n1 = 1,009; n2 = 989)
    Impact experienced626 (62.0)940 (95.0)
    School and work impacts109 (17.4)599 (63.7)“I had to leave my university and come home. I also am now unable to go to either of my jobs so I have no way of making money.”
    Self-isolating8 (1.3)385 (41.0)“I haven’t left the house in a week I’m starting to lose track of the days.”
    Cancellations37 (5.9)109 (11.6)“…prom’s cancelled, tennis season probably won’t happen.”
    “All my plans around my life have been canceled”
    Anxiety or fear170 (27.2)98 (10.4)“It has caused anxiety and fear. I don’t want to get sick and I especially don’t want my older family members to get it.”
    No impact383 (38.0)49 (5.0)“It really hasn’t affected me.”
    Are you worried about coronavirus? Why or why not? (n1 = 1,005; n2 = 975)
    Yes251 (25.0)494 (50.7)
    Somewhat237 (23.6)247 (25.3)
    No517 (51.4)234 (24.0)
    Reasons worried
    Fear for others129 (26.4)248 (33.5)“Not so much for my own health but for my parents and grandparents.”
    Higher-risk individuals107 (21.9)156 (21.1)“Yes of course, I’m worried about my parents, my family would are [sic] health care providers, for homeless individuals, for the elderly population, everyone who could die from this.”
    Spreading100 (20.5)137 (18.5)“I’m worried that I’ll spread it.”
    “…with the quick spread of this disease, it’s hard not to be worried.”
    Dangerous/deadly52 (10.7)113 (15.2)“Yes, because hospitalization, death, and health care cost.”
    “Yes, its’ a pandemic and should be treated as such.”
    Wages/economic20 (4.1)98 (13.2)“I think it’s impact on the economy will be felt for years to come.…”
    “…I’m worried about the economic ramifications/being able to afford rent in coming months.”
    Life impacts22 (4.5)97 (13.1)“Yes, because it’s affecting my daily life.”
    “Yes, because it is slowly stopping and shutting down the world around us.”
    Fear for self66 (13.5)90 (12.1)“I am high-risk patient due to asthma.…”
    “Heck yeah. I don’t wanna die.”
    Poor management44 (9.0)88 (11.9)“…I’m worried it’s not being taken seriously by younger people.”
    “Yes, our president so far is taking the coronavirus as a joke.”
    Reasons not worried
    Young & healthy207 (27.5)86 (17.9)“No, because I’m healthy and would be able to fight off a virus easily.”
    “Nope because it doesn’t affect my age group.”
    Practicing prevention96 (12.7)70 (14.6)“No, I feel like I’ve taken the necessary precautions.”
    “No, because I clean, keep my distance, and wash my hands as a normal routine, something everyone should do.”
    Mild disease178 (23.6)44 (9.1)“Statistically more people die from the flu so not necessarily.”
    “No, it’s such a low death rate.…”
    Overhyped74 (9.8)27 (5.6)“No…to me the situation is a sham.”
    “No, people are freaking out and it does not matter.”
    Are you doing anything to prepare for coronavirus? If so, what? (n1 = 1,000; n2 = 942)
    Social distancing47 (4.7)472 (50.1)“…staying away from public events and places.”
    “Yes, we are doing social distancing to protect people who may be vulnerable.”
    Stocking up175 (17.5)364 (38.6)“I am getting all my medications filled and trying to get perishable food just in case there is a country lockdown.”
    “We have food and supplies loaded up for 2 weeks at the home.”
    Increased hygiene297 (29.7)165 (17.5)“Washing hands, sanitizing, cleaning my house frequently.…”
    “…increased hand washing, avoiding touching my face.”
    Nothing357 (35.7)137 (14.5)“I’m not doing anything to prepare.”
    Normal hygiene174 (17.4)69 (7.3)“Hand hygiene as per usual.”
    “I’m just taking regular health precautions.”
    • COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019.

    • ↵aTotals may not add to 100% because codes are not mutually exclusive.

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Perspectives of US Youth During Initial Month of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Eric Waselewski, Marika Waselewski, Chloe Harper, Sarah Dickey, Sue Anne Bell, Tammy Chang
The Annals of Family Medicine Mar 2021, 19 (2) 141-147; DOI: 10.1370/afm.2642

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Perspectives of US Youth During Initial Month of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Eric Waselewski, Marika Waselewski, Chloe Harper, Sarah Dickey, Sue Anne Bell, Tammy Chang
The Annals of Family Medicine Mar 2021, 19 (2) 141-147; DOI: 10.1370/afm.2642
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