RESUMO
COVID-19 risk mitigation behavior, including social distancing and mask wearing, was a principal factor influencing the spread of COVID-19. Yet this behavior, and its association with COVID-19 perceptions and beliefs, is poorly understood. Here we used a mixed methods approach combining serious game data with survey instruments to describe relationships between perceptions and behavior. Using a series of survey questions, participants were described along a spectrum denoting their perception of their susceptibility to COVID-19 associated with a list of activities. Afterwards, participants engaged with a serious game to examine behavioral responses to scenarios involving shopping at a grocery store and going to a park during simulated pandemic conditions. Messages describing the simulated infection risk were shown to drive many behavioral decisions. Another significant correlate, derived from survey results, was the participants perception of susceptibility associated with various activities for acquiring the COVID-19 infection. Individuals that perceived every day activities, such as grocery shopping, as unlikely to lead to a COVID-19 infection spent more time near others in the game-simulated grocery store environment compared to those that consider such activities as risky. Additionally, we found that participant behavior became increasingly risky as time progresses if they were lucky enough not to experience an infection. This reflects behavior observed in the United States and more broadly, possibly explains how people update their perception of the risk of activities. Overall, results show a link between perception and action with regards to COVID-19 and support the use of targeted risk messaging to influence behavior. Moreover, the link between reported real-world perceptions and game behavior suggest that serious games can be used as valuable tools to test policies, risk messaging and communication, with the goal of nudging individuals with varied and nuanced perceptions and belief sets towards behaviors that will reduce the impact of COVID-19.
RESUMO
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected food systems including food security. Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted food security is important to provide support, and identify long-term impacts and needs. ObjectiveOur team- the National Food Access and COVID research Team (NFACT) was formed to assess food security over different U.S. study sites throughout the pandemic, using common instruments and measurements. Here we present results from 18 study sites across 15 states and nationally over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsA validated survey instrument was developed and implemented in whole or part across the sites throughout the first year of the pandemic, representing 22 separate surveys. Sampling methods for each study site were convenience, representative, or high-risk targeted. Food security was measured using the USDA six-item module. Food security prevalence was analyzed using analysis of variance by sampling method to statistically significant differences. ResultsIn total, more than 27,000 people responded to the surveys. We find higher prevalence of food insecurity (low or very low food security) since the COVID-19 pandemic, as compared to before the pandemic. In nearly all study sites, we find higher prevalence of food insecurity among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), households with children, and those with job disruptions. We also demonstrate lingering food insecurity, with high or increased prevalence over time in sites with repeat surveys. We find no statistically significant differences between convenience and representative surveys, but statistically higher prevalence of food insecurity among high-risk compared to convenience surveys. ConclusionsThis comprehensive multi-study site effort demonstrates higher prevalence of food insecurity since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which in multiple survey sites continues throughout the first year of the pandemic. These impacts were prevalent for certain demographic groups, and most pronounced for surveys targeting high-risk populations.
