From German Internet Panel to Mannheim Corona Study: Adaptable probability-based online panel infrastructures during the pandemic

The outbreak of COVID-19 has sparked a sudden demand for fast, frequent and accurate data on the societal impact of the pandemic. This demand has highlighted a divide in survey data collection: Most probability-based social surveys, which can deliver the necessary data quality to allow valid inference to the general population, are slow, infrequent and ill-equipped to survey people during a lockdown. Most non-probability online surveys, which can deliver large amounts of data fast, frequently and without interviewer contact, however, cannot provide the data quality needed for population inference. Well aware of this chasm in the data landscape, at the onset of the pandemic, we set up the Mannheim Corona Study (MCS), a rotating panel survey with daily data collection on the basis of the long-standing probability-based online panel infrastructure of the German Internet Panel (GIP). The MCS has provided academics and political decision makers with key information to understand the social and economic developments during the early phase of the pandemic. This paper describes the panel adaptation process, demonstrates the power of the MCS data on its own and when linked to other data sources, and evaluates the data quality achieved by the MCS fast-response methodology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Welfare state support during the COVID-19 pandemic: Change and continuity in public attitudes towards social policies in Germany.

Our analysis asks whether the pandemic situation affects welfare state support in Germany. The pandemic has increased the health and income risks calling for welfare state intervention. While increased needs, more deservingness, and higher state responsibility during such a crisis would suggest augmented support generally and among those at risk, this might be a short-term effect and cost considerations could reverse this trend. We study public attitudes towards four key social policy areas based on the German Internet Panel (GIP). We use three waves prior and further three waves since the pandemic had been declared in March 2020. The analysis shows both continuity in the popularity of social policies, in particular health and pensions, and some short-term increase in support for unemployment and family policies. The results after nearly 2 years suggest rather continuation with some thermostatic short-term boosts in support instead of any long-lasting change.

Nuestro análisis investiga si la situación de la pandemia afecta al apoyo del estado de bienestar en Alemania. La pandemia ha aumentado los riesgos para la salud y los ingresos, lo que requiere una mayor intervención del estado de bienestar. Si bien una mayor necesidad, más merecimiento y una mayor responsabilidad del estado durante una crisis de este tipo sugerirían un mayor apoyo en general y entre aquellos en riesgo, esto podría ser un efecto a corto plazo y las consideraciones de costos podrían revertir esta tendencia. Estudiamos las actitudes públicas hacia cuatro áreas clave de política social basadas en el Panel de Internet alemán, utilizando tres encuestas GIP anteriores y tres oleadas posteriores desde que se declaró la pandemia en marzo de 2020. El análisis muestra tanto la continuidad en la popularidad de las políticas sociales, en en particular, salud y pensiones, y algún aumento a corto plazo en el apoyo al desempleo y las políticas familiares. Nuestros resultados después de casi dos años sugieren más bien una continuación con algunos aumentos termostáticos a corto plazo en el soporte en lugar de un cambio duradero.

[Increase of depressive symptoms among adolescents during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Germany : Results from the German family panel pairfam]. / Anstieg depressiver Symptome bei Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen während des ersten Lockdowns in Deutschland : Ergebnisse des Beziehungs- und Familienpanels pairfam.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed social life within a very short time. Lockdown policies often consider the tradeoff between containing the spread of the pandemic and negative consequences for the economy. Policymakers should pay more attention to the psychological and social impacts of the lockdown. RESEARCH QUESTION: How did the mental health of adolescents in Germany change during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown? MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analyses are based on longitudinal data from nationwide randomly selected anchors of the German family panel pairfam. The age group considered here, born between 2001 and 2003, was surveyed for the first time in 2018/2019 in the course of a refreshment sample, and 854 of these adolescents and young adults aged 16-19 also participated in the COVID-19 supplementary survey from May to July 2020 (first lockdown). Depressiveness is assessed with the State-Trait Depression Scale. RESULTS: During the first lockdown, adolescents show a significant increase in depressive symptoms. Prior to the lockdown, 10.4% had clinically relevant depressive symptoms [95% CI: 8.4; 12.5]. In spring 2020, the prevalence increased to 25.3% [95% CI: 22.4; 28.2]. Young women have a significantly higher risk of developing depressive symptoms than men of the same age. Immigrant background is an equally strong risk factor. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents with an immigrant background increased from 11% to 33%. DISCUSSION: To address this increased mental health risk and the inequalities, policymakers and society should ensure access and availability of target-group-specific and low-threshold prevention and counselling.

Health behaviors and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal population-based survey in Germany.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the mental health response to repeated and prolonged stress during the COVID-19 related lockdown and the role of specific health behaviors to buffer against this stress. METHODS: In a longitudinal study with several measurement points covering three months during the COVID-19 pandemic, about 3500 randomly selected participants representative of the German population reported on their mental health (anxiety, depression, loneliness) and health behaviors (screen time, snack consumption, physical activity). RESULTS: Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness were highest shortly after the lockdown came into effect. Over time, the symptoms were stable or went down slightly, corresponding to patterns of habituation. Among people with higher vulnerability to poor mental health during the lockdown (e.g., women), the proportion with high levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness was considerably larger. These groups also reported fewer health-promoting behaviors. More screen time, more snacking, and less physical activity were related to higher symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness across all time points. Changes in health behaviors over time mostly did not predict changes in mental health symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Mental health and engagement in protective health behaviors was lowest at the start of the lockdown. Health behaviors mostly returned to pre-lockdown levels within three months. Engaging in healthier behaviors was associated with better mental health. Policy implications of these findings are discussed. This study provides important insights into (unintended) side effects of an international crisis and can contribute to a better understanding of how to preserve mental health.

Barriers to the Large-Scale Adoption of a COVID-19 Contact Tracing App in Germany: Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, one way to reduce further transmissions of SARS-CoV-2 is the widespread use of contact tracing apps. Such apps keep track of proximity contacts and warn contacts of persons who tested positive for an infection. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we analyzed potential barriers to the large-scale adoption of the official contact tracing app that was introduced in Germany on June 16, 2020. METHODS: Survey data were collected from 3276 adults during the week the app was introduced using an offline-recruited, probability-based online panel of the general adult population in Germany. RESULTS: We estimate that 81% of the population aged 18 to 77 years possess the devices and ability to install the official app and that 35% are also willing to install and use it. Potential spreaders show high access to devices required to install the app (92%) and high ability to install the app (91%) but low willingness (31%) to correctly adopt the app, whereas for vulnerable groups, the main barrier is access (62%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a pessimistic view on the effectiveness of app-based contact tracing to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. We recommend targeting information campaigns at groups with a high potential to spread the virus but who are unwilling to install and correctly use the app, in particular men and those aged between 30 and 59 years. In addition, vulnerable groups, in particular older individuals and those in lower-income households, may be provided with equipment and support to overcome their barriers to app adoption.

COVID-19 policies in Germany and their social, political, and psychological consequences.

Many policy analyses on COVID-19 have been focusing on what kind of policies are implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19. What seems equally important to explore are the social and political consequences of the confinement policies. Does the public support strict confinement policies? What are the social, political, and psychological consequences of the confinement policies? The question of how legitimate a policy is among the public is at the core of democratic theory. Its relevance also stems from the expected consequences of public support on behavior: The more someone supports a policy, the more someone is likely to follow the policy even if the policy is not strictly enforced. In this paper, we will focus on Germany, briefly summarize the main policies during the first 6 weeks of confinement and then explore political attitudes, risk perceptions, and the social consequences of the lockdown.