Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: quantifying the practice in Michigan - a "hotspot state" early in the pandemic - using a volunteer-based online survey

Authors

Andrea E. Cassidy-Bushrow, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Mohammed Baseer, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Karen E. Klippen, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Albert M. Levin, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Jia Li, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Ian Loveless, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Laila M. Poisson, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Lonni Schultz, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Ganesa Wegienka, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Yueren Zhou, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Christine C. Johnson, Henry Ford HealthFollow

Recommended Citation

Cassidy-Bushrow AE, Baseer M, Kippen K, Levin AM, Li J, Loveless I, Poisson LM, Schultz L, Wegienka G, Zhou Y, and Johnson CC. Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic: quantifying the practice in Michigan - a "hotspot state" early in the pandemic - using a volunteer-based online survey. BMC Public Health 2021; 21(1):245.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-29-2021

Publication Title

BMC public health

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Public Health policies related to social distancing efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic helped slow the infection rate. However, individual-level factors associated with social distancing are largely unknown. We sought to examine social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan, an infection "hotspot" state in the United States early in the pandemic.

METHODS: Two surveys were distributed to Michigan residents via email lists and social media following COVID-19 related state mandates in March; 45,691 adults responded to the first survey and 8512 to the second. Staying home ≥ 3 out of 5 previous days defined having more social distancing. Logistic regression models were used to examine potential factors associated with more social distancing.

RESULTS: Most respondents were women (86% in Survey 1, 87% in Survey 2). In Survey 1, 63% reported more social distancing, increasing to 78% in Survey 2. Female sex and having someone (or self) sick in the home were consistently associated with higher social distancing, while increasing age was positively associated in Survey 1 but negatively associated in Survey 2. Most respondents felt social distancing policies were important (88% in Survey 1; 91% in Survey 2).

CONCLUSIONS: Michiganders responding to the surveys were both practicing and supportive of social distancing. State-level executive orders positively impacted behaviors early in the COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan. Additional supports are needed to help vulnerable populations practice social distancing, including older individuals.

Medical Subject Headings

Adult; COVID-19; Disease Hotspot; Female; Humans; Male; Michigan; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Physical Distancing; Public Policy; Surveys and Questionnaires

PubMed ID

33514350

Volume

21

Issue

1

First Page

245

Last Page

245