Most residents remain happy
But challenges persist for minorities, those with low incomes
Alingering COVID-19 pandemic appears not to have harshly dampened people’s spirits in Connecticut, but challenges persist for some across income level and race, a new sweeping survey from DataHaven shows.
The survey, which accounts for interviews with 1,108 adults in the state from mid-July through mid-August, shines light on the mood of residents faced with months of shutdowns, restrictions and a dramatic and speedy readjustment to a new normal.
“The purpose of the DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey is to produce the most accurate, locally-relevant information on issues that are most meaningful to residents, thereby adding to what public agencies are able to collect through administrative record-keeping systems,” said Mark Abraham, executive director of DataHaven, a New Haven
nonprofit. “As many families face new challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the economy, health system, and society at large, it is encouraging that so many organizations re continuing their collaboration to collect information that truly represents the voices of residents throughout the state.”
While many remain happy despite the challenges faced during the pandemic, the survey highlights disparities among gender, income level and race. The survey had a margin of effor of plus or minus 3.8%.
Here’s a look at what the new survey revealed:
68% of adults remain ‘mostly or completely’ happy in spite of the pandemic
Of those interviewed, nearly two-thirds reported that they remain “mostly or completely” happy in light of the ongoing pandemic.
Data Haven noted that this feeling of happiness varied substantially across income levels. While 76% of people making more than $100,000 said they were mostly or completely happy, that number dropped to 54% for those making less than $30,000 a year.
Housing issues, food insecurity, child care and job losses weigh on quality of life
Since late winter, 20% of those interviewed said that at least one person in their household lost their job. The percentage is higher for Black adults (22%) and Latino adults (37%). About 22% said they felt underemployed.
Food insecurity became a greater issue during the pandemic. The survey shows that it ranged from 9% percent among white adults to 22% and 29% for Black and Latino adults.
In the past year, at least half of which has included the COVID19 pandemic, about 10% of adults said they do not have enough money to provide necessary housing for their families, the survey shows.
Child care, which increased in difficulty with the rapid shutdown of schools and day care facilities in the early weeks of the pandemic, was a problem for about 40% of adults.
Many people still leave home for work and fear they could be exposed to COVID-19
The survey showed that about 40% of adults said they leave home often to go to work. Adults who are white, female, college-educated or making a higher income reported they were more likely to work entirely from home.
For those leaving home, 60% were concerned about being exposed to COVID-19; the highest concerns were present among Black and Latino adults, the survey showed.
But people were largely confident their employers had done an adequate job to ensure their safety from COVID-19.
COVID-19 directly touched about one-third of adults
The survey highlighted that about 33% of the adults interviewed knew someone personally, whether it was a close friend or family member, that had tested positive for COVID-19. The survey also noted that 18% knew someone hospitalized and 13% said someone close to them died.
Mirroring infection tracking by the state, the percentages of Black and Latino adults who knew people infected with COVID-19 were higher, Data Haven said.
Compounding health issues, 5% of those interviewed said they lost their health care and about half of adults said they put off medical and dental procedures during the pandemic.
Amajority of people are willing to get vaccinated
Vaccination, a debated topic in recent months, appears to have support among a majority of adults, the survey shows.
Of those interviewed, 63% said they would get a COVID-19 vaccine when one reaches the market. Black adults appeared most skeptical of getting a vaccine.
DataHaven said those who showed the least confidence in the government also appeared least willing to get a vaccine.
People are keen to follow strict guidance from authorities to stop the spread of COVID-19
As infections spread quickly across Connecticut in March and April, state officials enacted strict policies in an effort to limit the spread of the virus, from requesting people wear masks to quarantining if exposed to the virus.
Despite some pushback to mandates that people wear masks, a vast majority of people surveyed (89%) said they wear face coverings mostly or very often.
The acceptance appears highest in urban areas compared to rural areas, the survey shows. And Black adults responded at a higher rate than white adults that they wear masks.
For those required to quarantine, 91% of adults said they could stay home for 14 days if they were exposed to or contracted the virus.
People appear to trust their local leaders
Though trust was somewhat lower in the federal government, a significant number of adults appear to trust their local governments, health officials and health care workers.
For local governments, about 72% of adults said they had a great deal or a fair amount of trust. But 91% said they trusted local health officials and health care workers.