Many Americans have lied to others about COVID (study)

Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter

HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) — At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 40% of Americans lied about whether they had the virus or ignored safety precautions. This is shown in a nationwide survey.

December Investigation We found that 721 of the 1,700 respondents misrepresented their COVID status or failed to follow public health recommendations.

People were ignoring quarantine rules, telling anyone trying to see they were taking more precautions than they actually were, and about what they could or did have with COVID when they entered the clinic. They also lied about their vaccination status by claiming they were vaccinated when they were not or that they were not vaccinated when they took the jab The investigation revealed that

The most common reason for lack of transparency was that people wanted to feel normal or exercise their personal freedom.

“COVID-19 safety measures can certainly be a burden, but they work,” says co-author Andrea Garmankin-Levy, a professor of social sciences at Middlesex Community College in Connecticut. .

Co-author Angela Fagerlin, director of population health sciences at the Utah Health University, said the study highlights reluctance to honestly report health status and adherence to masking, social distancing, and public health measures. said it raised concerns that it could prolong the pandemic and spread the disease.

“Some people may think that lying once or twice about their COVID-19 status is not a big deal,” Fagerlin said in a University of Utah news release. . “But if nearly half of us do it, as our research suggests, it’s a serious problem prolonging the pandemic.”

Respondents cited various reasons for deception. Among them: They didn’t think COVID was real or a big deal. They didn’t feel sick. I couldn’t miss work or stay home. They followed the advice of celebrities and celebrities. And finally, it was nobody else’s business.

“If people are unfaithful about their COVID-19 status and what precautions they are taking, they may increase the spread of the disease in their communities,” Levy said in a release. For people in the department, it could mean death, especially before getting the COVID vaccine.

People under the age of 60 and people with a strong distrust of science are most likely to be involved in false reporting. About 60% of respondents said they have sought medical advice about preventing or treating COVID-19.

The study found no association between misrepresentation and political beliefs, party affiliation, or religion.

Fagerlin said the survey asked a wider range of behavioral questions and included far more participants than previous studies on the topic.

However, the researchers could not determine whether respondents answered honestly, and said the findings may have underestimated how often people are dishonest about their health. I got

“This study is a great way to show what concerns people have about the public health measures implemented in response to the pandemic, and how they are likely to be honest in the face of a global crisis. It helps a lot,” said co-author Alistair Thorpe. She is a postdoctoral fellow at Utah Health University. “Knowing that will help us prepare for the next wave of global disease.”

The findings were published on October 10th. JAMA network open.

For more information

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more information about COVID-19.

Source: University of Utah Health, News Release, October 10, 2022