Attitudes in the Time of COVID-19

IntelliSurvey’s first installment in its “Life in the Time of COVID-19” online survey series, conducted on March 27, 2020 among 1055 adults in the U.S., offers a point-in-time snapshot of what Americans are thinking  and doing during the COVID-19 outbreak.  The following is a summary of some of the attitudinal results.

Will the Sun Come Out Tomorrow?

Participants were shown a series of images and asked to indicate which one best describes how they feel about the state of the world today, as well as how they feel about the future.  As shown in the following chart, nearly two-thirds (65%) of  people do not have positive feelings about the state of the world today, with 26% selecting the sick emoji and 39% opting for the sad emoji.

However, participants are less pessimistic about the state of the world in the future: About one third have negative feelings, with 11% indicating they feel sick and 21% signaling that they feel sad about the future.  In addition, the percentage of those who feel positive/happy about the state of the world moves from 6% when thinking about today versus 20% feeling that way about the future.

What Keeps You Up At Night?

Survey participants were shown a list of possible concerns due to the Coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. and asked to select their top three concerns. 

Health and finances top the worry list, with nearly four in ten participants (44%) citing  “My/my family’s health” as a concern, followed by  “the overall economy” (35%), and “my/my family’s personal finances” (32%).  More than a quarter of participants (27%) are also concerned about “the health of my elderly neighbors/family members.”

There are a few happy-go-lucky participants in the sample with 3% indicating that they are “not concerned about anything.”

Making a Choice

 Survey participants were shown a series of pairs of statements and asked to choose which one most closely fit how they currently feel.

• Given that most states’ governors have issued ‘stay-at-home’ orders, including the closure of non-essential businesses, it’s not surprising that most participants (86%) feel that they are spending more time with their families.
• While it is important to get ‘the country back to work’, nearly three quarters (71%) feel that no amount of prosperity is worth risking health.
• Two thirds of participants (67%) report that they are feeling anxious.
• Most (64%) feel that Social Media creates confusion and doubt.
• At the current time, most (63%) feel that they are able to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
• A majority (58%) also feel that they are able to provide everything that their loved ones need.
• Over half (56%) are pessimistic about the economy, feeling that things are only going to get worse.
• However, over half (53%) also believe that their financial situation will improve.