Experiences and Behavior during the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Community Survey

Description:

This pilot study obtained data about the life experiences of Northeast US residents during the coronavirus pandemic, with the aim of informing both the current, as well as the future, public health response. Specifically, the project examined the association of pandemic-related stressors, such as concerns about infection, lack of social support, and loss of income, with mental health symptoms and substance use. It also measured self-reported access to healthcare, including telehealth, and its association with subjective health status and well-being. An online survey was made available via MTurk from June 18 to July 19, 2020. Adults residing in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, or Rhode Island were eligible to participate. Eligible individuals (N = 1079) completed a 45-minute survey on health status, coping strategies, perceived stress, mental health, substance use, and food security, as well as measures specifically developed to assess participants’ circumstances and responses under the current coronavirus pandemic. A follow-up study was conducted in 2021, including a component addressing social network influences on vaccination practices and attitudes. This project has produced the following publications:

1. Goodyear, K., Moyo, P., Avila, J. C., Ahluwalia, J. S., & Monnig, M. A. (2022). Associations between alcohol and cannabis use before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of a community survey. Addictive behaviors reports, 16, 100455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2022.100455
2. Gully, B. J., Padovano, H. T., Clark, S. E., Muro, G. J., Monnig, M. A. (2023). Exposure to the death of others during the COVID-19 pandemic: Growing mistrust in medical institutions as a result of personal loss. Behavioral Sciences.13(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13120999
3. Monnig, M. A., Treloar Padovano, H., Sokolovsky, A. W., DeCost, G., Aston, E. R., Haass-Koffler, C. L., Szapary, C., Moyo, P., Avila, J. C., Tidey, J. W., Monti, P. M., & Ahluwalia, J. S. (2021). Association of substance use with behavioral adherence to centers for disease control and prevention guidelines for COVID-19 mitigation: Cross-sectional web-based survey. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 7(11), e29319. https://doi.org/10.2196/29319
4. Monnig, M. A., Clark, S. E., Treloar Padovano, H., Sokolovsky, A. W., Goodyear-Chavanne, K., Ahluwalia, J. S., & Monti, P. M. (2023). Improving access to medication for opioid use disorder: Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic for telemedicine options and healthcare coverage. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2023.100515
5. Monnig, M. A., Clark, S. E., Avila, J., Sokolovsky, A. W., Treloar-Padovano, H., Goodyear-Chavanne, K., Aston, E. R., Haass-Koffler, C. L., Tidey, J.W., Ahluwalia, J. S., & Monti, P. M. (2023). COVID-19-related stressors and clinical mental health symptoms in a Northeast US sample. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021367
6. Morgan, K.M., Maglalang, D.D., Monnig, M.A., Ahluwalia, J. S., Avila, J. C., & Sokolovsky, A. W. (2023). Medical mistrust, perceived discrimination, and race: a longitudinal analysis of predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in US adults. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 10, 1846–1855. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01368-6
7. Szapary, C. L., Avila, J. C., Monnig, M. A., Sokolovsky, A. W., DeCost, G., & Ahluwalia, J. S. (2022). Adherence to COVID-19 guidelines among current, former, and never smokers. American Journal of Health Behavior, 46(4), 442–455. https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.46.4.5