Open AccessFactors contributing to COVID-19 skepticism and information gaps among older adults in the United States and Canada: An analysis of nationality, gender, education, family, and politics
Author(s) -
Brady Lund,
Bobbi Sartin Long
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
canadian journal of information and library science/the canadian journal of information and library science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1920-7239
pISSN - 1195-096X
DOI - 10.5206/cjilsrcsib.v45i1.14091
Subject(s) - skepticism , closeness , politics , pandemic , nationality , psychology , covid-19 , social psychology , political science , medicine , immigration , law , mathematical analysis , philosophy , mathematics , disease , epistemology , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
This study examines relationships between demographic attributes of older adults, information challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and skepticism about the efficacy of COVID-19 preventative measures (social distancing, mask wearing, good hygiene). A 12-question survey was distributed on the Amazon Mechanical Turk platform in late June 2021, receiving 400 responses. Findings indicate that gender, political affiliation, relationship status, family closeness, and perceived family control over one’s information source preferences are the greatest predictors of elevated gaps in information and skepticism towards COVID-19 prevention. Specifically, in this study, married, conservative men with close family ties often expressed elevated inadequacy of information and COVID-19 skepticism.