Handwashing (Tables 1 and 2). Almost all (93.4%) respondents said they were washing their hands often with soap and water to prevent COVID-19. Women more often reported frequent handwashing than men. Respondents 60 years of age or older more often reported frequent handwashing than respondents in younger age categories (45-59 year-olds, 30-44 year-olds, and 18-29 year-olds); 45-59 year-olds more often reported frequent handwashing than 30-44 and 18-29 year-olds. Respondents in the highest annual income category ($100k or more) reported the highest rate of handwashing (95.9%); in general, respondents with higher, compared to lower, incomes more often reported frequent handwashing. Respondents with a Bachelor’s degree or higher reported the highest rate of handwashing (96.0%) compared to other educational levels. Overall, respondents with higher, compared to lower, educational levels more often reported frequent handwashing. Those who rated their health as excellent, compared to those with a lower health self-rating, more often reported frequent handwashing (95.4%). Respondents with self-rated health of fair, good, very good, or excellent more often reported frequent handwashing than those with self-rated poor health. Respondents with good or very good self-rated health more often reported frequent handwashing than those with fair self-rated health, and those with excellent self-rated health more often reported frequent handwashing than those with very good self-rated health. Respondents living in the northeast region of the U.S. reported the highest rate of handwashing (95.4%) and more often reported frequent handwashing than those living in the south and west. No differences by race/ethnicity or metropolitan status were significant.
Table 1. Percentages of respondents who reported handwashing and disinfecting surfaces often to prevent coronavirus, by demographic characteristics – Spring ConsumerStyles 2020
Characteristic
|
Categories
|
Washing hands often
n (weighted %)
|
Disinfecting surfaces often
n (weighted %)
|
All respondents
|
--
|
6,013 (93.4%)
|
4,768 (74.0%)
|
Gender
|
Female
|
3,153 (94.5)
|
2,624 (78.7)
|
|
Male
|
2,860 (92.1)
|
2,145 (69.1)
|
Age
|
18-29
|
1,194 (91.4)
|
909 (69.6)
|
|
30-44
|
1,546 (90.1)
|
1,182 (73.4)
|
|
45-59
|
1,546 (94.7)
|
1,261 (77.2)
|
|
>60
|
1,822 (96.4)
|
1,417 (74.9)
|
Income
|
<$25k
|
745 (86.4)
|
587 (68.1)
|
|
$25k-$49k
|
1,050 (92.9)
|
850 (75.2)
|
|
$50k-$99k
|
1,977 (93.6)
|
1,560 (73.9)
|
|
>$100k
|
2,242 (95.9)
|
1,771 (75.8)
|
Education
|
Less than high school
|
550 (84.7)
|
463 (71.4)
|
|
High school
|
1,662 (91.7)
|
1,324 (73.1)
|
|
Some college
|
1,713 (95.0)
|
1,812 (76.6)
|
|
Bachelor’s degree or higher
|
2,088 (96.0)
|
1,599 (73.5)
|
Race/Ethnicity
|
Non-Hispanic White
|
3,847 (94.0)
|
2,982 (72.8)
|
|
Non-Hispanic Black
|
683 (91.2)
|
596 (79.6)
|
|
Hispanic
|
964 (92.0)
|
816 (77.9)
|
|
Multiracial/Other
|
91 (96.4)
|
68 (72.7)
|
Self-rated health1
|
Excellent
|
2,333 (95.4)
|
1,874 (76.6)
|
|
Very good
|
2,237 (94.1)
|
1,759 (74.0)
|
|
Good
|
749 (90.0)
|
566 (68.0)
|
|
Fair
|
577 (92.4)
|
470 (75.3)
|
|
Poor
|
113 (75.2)
|
96 (63.4)
|
Region3
|
Northeast
|
1,075 (95.4)
|
865 (76.8)
|
|
Midwest
|
1,248 (93.8)
|
994 (74.7)
|
|
South
|
2,264 (92.8)
|
1,815 (74.4)
|
|
West
|
1,427 (92.5)
|
1,094 (70.9)
|
Metropolitan status2
|
Metro
|
5,233 (93.7)
|
4,169 (74.6)
|
|
Non-metro
|
780 (91.3)
|
560 (70.2)
|
1Health status assessed by asking “In general, would you say your health is…”
2Metropolitan status was defined as a core-based statistical area.
3 Region categories based on U.S. Census
Table 2. Prevalence ratios, confidence intervals, and p-values for comparisons of respondents’ self-reported handwashing and surface disinfecting, by demographic characteristics – Spring ConsumerStyles 2020*
|
|
Washing hands often
|
|
Disinfecting surfaces often
|
Characteristic
|
Comparison1
|
% vs. %
|
PR2
|
(95% CI3)
|
p
|
|
% vs. %
|
PR2
|
95% CI3
|
p
|
Gender
|
Female vs. Male
|
94.5 vs. 92.1
|
1.03
|
(1.01, 1.04)
|
.004
|
|
78.7 vs. 69.1
|
1.14
|
(1.10, 1.18)
|
.001
|
Age
|
>60 vs. 45-59
|
96.4 vs. 94.7
|
1.02
|
(1.00, 1.03)
|
.037
|
|
74.9 vs. 77.2
|
0.97
|
(0.933, 1.01)
|
.125
|
|
>60 vs. 30-44
|
96.4 vs. 90.1
|
1.07
|
(1.05, 1.10)
|
.001
|
|
74.9 vs. 73.4
|
1.05
|
(0.99, 1.12)
|
.121
|
|
>60 vs. 18-29
|
96.4 vs. 91.4
|
1.05
|
(1.02, 1.09)
|
.001
|
|
74.9 vs. 69.6
|
1.08
|
(1.01, 1.15)
|
.026
|
|
45-59 vs. 30-44
|
94.7 vs. 90.1
|
1.05
|
(1.03, 1.08)
|
.001
|
|
77.2 vs. 73.4
|
1.05
|
(1.01, 1.10)
|
.023
|
|
45-59 vs. 18-29
|
94.7 vs. 91.4
|
1.04
|
(1.01, 1.07)
|
.022
|
|
77.2 vs. 69.6
|
1.09
|
(1.00, 1.19)
|
.048
|
|
30-44 vs. 18-29
|
90.1 vs. 91.4
|
0.98
|
(0.95, 1.01)
|
.392
|
|
73.4 vs. 69.6
|
1.05
|
(0.98, 1.13)
|
.132
|
Income
|
>$100k vs. $50k-$99k
|
95.9 vs. 93.6
|
1.02
|
(1.01, 1.04)
|
.010
|
|
75.8 vs. 73.9
|
1.03
|
(0.98, 1.07)
|
.242
|
|
>$100k vs. $25k-$49k
|
95.9 vs. 92.9
|
1.03
|
(1.00, 1.06)
|
.005
|
|
75.8 vs. 75.2
|
1.00
|
(0.93, 1.07)
|
.984
|
|
>$100k vs. <$25k
|
95.9 vs. 86.4
|
1.11
|
(1.07, 1.16)
|
.001
|
|
75.8 vs. 68.1
|
1.11
|
(1.04, 1.19)
|
.002
|
|
$50k-$99k vs. $25k-$49k
|
93.6 vs. 92.9
|
1.01
|
(0.98, 1.03)
|
.520
|
|
73.9 vs. 75.2
|
0.98
|
(0.93, 1.04)
|
.508
|
|
$50k-$99k vs. <$25k
|
93.6 vs. 86.4
|
1.08
|
(1.04, 1.13)
|
.001
|
|
73.9 vs. 68.1
|
1.12
|
(1.01, 1.23)
|
.026
|
|
$25k-$49k vs. <$25k
|
92.9 vs. 86.4
|
1.08
|
(1.03, 1.12)
|
.001
|
|
75.2 vs. 68.1
|
1.10
|
(1.02, 1.19)
|
.010
|
Education
|
Bachelor’s degree or higher vs. Some college
|
96.0 vs. 95.0
|
1.01
|
(0.99, 1.03)
|
.210
|
|
73.5 vs. 76.6
|
0.96
|
(0.92, 1.00)
|
.043
|
|
Bachelor’s degree or higher vs. High school
|
96.0 vs. 91.7
|
1.04
|
(1.02, 1.07)
|
.001
|
|
73.5 vs. 73.1
|
1.02
|
(0.96, 1.09)
|
.535
|
|
Bachelor’s degree or higher vs. <High school
|
96.0 vs. 84.7
|
1.13
|
(1.07, 1.20)
|
.001
|
|
73.5 vs. 71.4
|
1.03
|
(0.95, 1.12)
|
.494
|
|
Some college vs. High school
|
95.0 vs. 91.7
|
1.04
|
(1.01, 1.06)
|
.002
|
|
76.6 vs. 73.1
|
1.05
|
(1.00, 1.10)
|
.054
|
|
Some college vs. <High school
|
95.0 vs. 84.7
|
1.12
|
(1.06, 1.19)
|
.001
|
|
76.6 vs. 71.4
|
1.11
|
(0.99, 1.24)
|
.074
|
|
High school vs. <High school
|
91.7 vs. 84.7
|
1.08
|
(1.02, 1.15)
|
.006
|
|
73.1 vs. 71.4
|
1.02
|
(0.94, 1.12)
|
.595
|
Race/Ethnicity
|
Non-Hispanic Black vs.
Non-Hispanic White
|
91.2 vs. 94.0
|
0.97
|
(0.94, 1.00)
|
.080
|
|
79.6 vs. 72.8
|
1.09
|
(1.04, 1.15)
|
.001
|
|
Hispanic vs. Non-Hispanic White
|
92.0 vs. 94.0
|
0.98
|
(0.95, 1.01)
|
.141
|
|
77.9 vs. 72.8
|
1.07
|
(1.02, 1.13)
|
.011
|
|
Hispanic vs. Non-Hispanic Black
|
92.0 vs. 91.2
|
1.01
|
(0.97, 1.05)
|
.679
|
|
77.9 vs. 79.6
|
0.98
|
(0.91, 1.05)
|
.531
|
|
Multiracial/Other vs.
Non-Hispanic White
|
94.5 vs. 94.0
|
1.01
|
(0.97, 1.04)
|
.752
|
|
72.7 vs. 72.8
|
0.94
|
(0.86, 1.02)
|
.120
|
Self-rated health
|
Fair vs. Poor
|
92.4 vs. 75.2
|
1.20
|
(1.05, 1.36)
|
.007
|
|
75.3 vs. 63.4
|
1.07
|
(0.90, 1.27)
|
.418
|
|
Good vs. Poor
|
90.0 vs. 75.2
|
1.25
|
(1.10, 1.42)
|
.001
|
|
68.0 vs. 63.4
|
1.35
|
(1.07, 1.70)
|
.012
|
|
Very good vs. Poor
|
94.1 vs. 75.2
|
1.26
|
(1.12, 1.44)
|
.001
|
|
74.0 vs. 63.4
|
1.36
|
(1.08, 1.71)
|
.010
|
|
Excellent vs. Poor
|
95.4 vs. 75.2
|
1.23
|
(1.08, 1.40)
|
.002
|
|
76.6 vs. 63.4.
|
1.19
|
(1.00, 1.41)
|
.046
|
|
Good vs. Fair
|
90.0 vs. 92.4
|
1.05
|
(1.01, 1.08)
|
.011
|
|
68.0 vs. 75.3
|
1.09
|
(1.02, 1.16)
|
.016
|
|
Very good vs. Fair
|
94.1 vs. 92.4
|
1.06
|
(1.02, 1.10)
|
.001
|
|
74.0 vs. 75.3
|
1.07
|
(0.98, 1.16)
|
.148
|
|
Excellent vs. Fair
|
95.4 vs. 92.4
|
1.03
|
(0.98, 1.07)
|
.236
|
|
76.6 vs. 75.3
|
1.07
|
(0.95, 1.19)
|
.252
|
|
Very good vs. Good
|
94.1 vs. 90.0
|
1.01
|
(1.00, 1.03)
|
.134
|
|
74.0 vs. 68.0
|
1.04
|
(1.00, 1.08)
|
.084
|
|
Excellent vs. Good
|
95.4 vs. 90.0
|
0.98
|
(0.95, 1.01)
|
.273
|
|
76.6 vs. 68.0
|
1.01
|
(0.92, 1.10)
|
.837
|
|
Excellent vs. Very good
|
95.4 vs. 94.1
|
0.97
|
(0.94, 1.00)
|
.051
|
|
76.6 vs. 74.0
|
0.98
|
(0.92, 1.05)
|
.596
|
Region
|
Northeast vs. Midwest
|
95.4 vs. 93.8
|
1.02
|
(1.00, 1.04)
|
.128
|
|
76.8 vs. 74.7
|
1.03
|
(0.98, 1.08)
|
.301
|
|
Northeast vs. South
|
95.4 vs. 92.8
|
1.03
|
(1.01, 1.05)
|
.013
|
|
76.8 vs. 74.4
|
1.03
|
(0.98, 1.09)
|
.196
|
|
Northeast vs. West
|
95.4 vs. 92.5
|
1.03
|
(1.01, 1.06)
|
.012
|
|
76.8 vs. 70.9
|
1.08
|
(1.02, 1.15)
|
.005
|
|
West vs. Midwest
|
92.5 vs. 93.8
|
0.99
|
(0.96, 1.01)
|
.265
|
|
70.9 vs. 74.7
|
0.95
|
(0.90, 1.00)
|
.058
|
|
West vs. South
|
92.5 vs. 92.8
|
1.00
|
(0.97, 1.02)
|
.788
|
|
70.9 vs. 74.4
|
0.95
|
(0.91, 1.00)
|
.065
|
|
Midwest vs. South
|
93.8 vs. 92.8
|
1.01
|
(1.00, 1.03)
|
.350
|
|
74.7 vs. 74.4
|
1.00
|
(0.96, 1.05)
|
.843
|
Metropolitan status
|
Metro vs. Non-metro
|
93.7 vs. 91.3
|
1.03
|
(1.00, 1.06)
|
.082
|
|
74.6 vs. 70.2
|
1.06
|
(1.00, 1.13)
|
.037
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 The reference level is the second listed category in the comparison.
2 Prevalence Ratio (PR)
3 Confidence Interval (CI)
Bold indicates significant comparisons (p<.05).
Disinfecting (Tables 1 and 2). Nearly three-fourths (74.0%) of respondents said they were disinfecting surfaces at home and work often to prevent COVID-19. Women more often than men (78.7% vs. 69.1%) reported frequent surface disinfection. Respondents aged 45–59 years old reported the highest rate of disinfecting surfaces (77.2%) and more often reported frequent surface disinfection than those aged 30-44 and 18-29 years old. Respondents 60 years of age and older more often reported frequent surface disinfection than those aged 18-29 years old. Respondents in the highest annual income category ($100k or more), compared to lower categories, reported the highest rate of disinfecting surfaces (75.8%). Respondents in the highest income categories ($100k or more, 50k-$99k, $25k-$49k) more often reported frequent surface disinfection than those in the lowest category (<$25k). Non-Hispanic Blacks reported the highest rate of disinfecting surfaces (79.6%); non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics, compared to non-Hispanic Whites, more often reported frequent surface disinfection. Respondents who rated their health as excellent, compared to those with a lower health self-rating, more often reported frequent surface disinfection (75.8%). Respondents with self-rated health of good, very good, and excellent more often reported frequent surface disinfection than respondents with poor self-rated health. Those with good, compared to fair, self-rated health more often reported frequent surface disinfection. Respondents living in metropolitan, compared to non-metropolitan, areas more often reported frequent surface disinfection. Those living in the northeast more often reported disinfecting surfaces than those living in the west. No differences by education were significant.