If you live in the US, you have most likely already felt the effects of the Coronavirus outbreak. If you haven’t yet, they are probably headed your way. Whether it’s social distancing, working from home, or having to teach your children while they are home from school, most people have had to make sacrifices as the virus spreads around the country.
But the virus is affecting each generation differently. It’s likely that Gen Zers are feeling the impacts of social distancing, Millennials are concerned they aren’t able to go to sporting events, and Gen Xers are caring for both their children and elderly parents.
Each generation has had to most likely make changes to their lives, but which generation is most concerned about the actual virus? According to a new study done by Perksy, a next-gen market intelligence platform that conducts real-time research, concern for Coronavirus rises with ages.
Who is concerned about Coronavirus?
According to the survey, 52% of consumers are worried about Coronavirus, but only 15% are very worried. As mentioned, concern about the virus rises with age, with 63% of Baby Boomers concerned, compared to 54% of Gen Xers, 50% of Millennials, and 44% of Gen Zers.
Who is following the Coronavirus updates the closest?
This fast-spreading disease has led to a nonstop news cycle that produces updates constantly.
A majority of people, 71% based on the survey, are keeping up to date on the virus at least once per day. Only 20% of people are checking for hourly updates.
Many more members of older generations are checking the news for updates than younger people, with 85% of Baby Boomers reading the news at least once per day, compared to 76% of Gen Xers, and 61% of Millennials and Gen Zers.
How daily habits have been changed due to the Coronavirus pandemic
Between social distancing and self-quarantine, the Coronavirus has changed the daily habits of many people in the United States. According to the study, 52% of people have altered their habits at least a little so far.
For example, personal hygiene habits, like hand washing and using hand sanitizer, have increased among the vast majority of people. According to the study, 76% of people have started washing their hands and using hand sanitizer more frequently, while 50% have decreased the practice of handshaking.
The survey revealed that younger generations are more likely than older generations to have altered their handwashing routine, with 81% of Gen Zers reporting increased washing compared to only 72% of Baby Boomers. That being said, older generations are more likely to have decreased handshaking than the younger ones. According to the survey, 59% of Baby Boomers decreased handshaking, compared to 42% of Gen Zers.
Public transportation use has begun to decline as 29% of people reported avoiding using it. According to the study, most offices and workplaces have yet to go remote, with only 12% of people reporting that they are working from home.
Millennials are more likely than other generations to be working from home due to the outbreak, with 18% of Millennials reporting working from home, compared to 10% of Generation X and Z, and only 8% of Baby Boomers.
Surprisingly, only 22% of people have begun to take more drastic measures, such as stocking up on food and delaying vacation plans.
Do people believe this outbreak will last for a long time?
According to the survey, 48% of people think that Coronavirus will be around for four or more months and 20% think the outbreak will still be happening in seven months or more.
While many have their estimates about how long the country will feel the impacts of the Coronavirus, no one really knows for sure. According to The Washington Post, the answer to this question varies on a variety of factors, including when U.S. cases will reach their peak, which is very hard to determine at this point.