STRESS, WORRY & A RETURN TO NORMAL
The environment around the coronavirus pandemic is clearly one of great concern; it is not, however, one of panic.
Relatively few consumers view themselves in “meltdown” mode but consumers are concerned about coming into contact with the coronavirus and/or catching it and becoming ill. Most feel like it will take until the Fall or longer until things return to normal. While consumers are concerned about their health, they are also concerned about their finances. This conflict – wanting to stay healthy and financially stable – is creating further confusion among consumers who don’t want to get sick but are ready for the economy to open.
Question
As it relates to the coronavirus, how would you describe the level of stress in your household?
Question
How concerned are you that you or someone in your household will come into contact with the coronavirus?
QUESTION
How concerned are you that you or someone in your household will contract the coronavirus and become ill?
QUESTION
About how long do you think it will take to return to normal?
QUESTION
While the coronavirus is being called a healthcare crisis, it is also creating financial hardships for many. To what extent are you concerned about your health/the health of your family?
QUESTION
While the coronavirus is being called a healthcare crisis, it is also creating financial hardships for many. To what extent are you concerned about your financial situation?
Employment Impact
Just over half of the households report changes at work.
Over half of households report changes at work, ranging from working from home to having someone in the household become furloughed or lose a job altogether. The good news is that consumers are confident their jobs will be there when the pandemic ends.
QUESTION
Do you work outside the home (or, prior to the coronavirus, did you work outside the home)?
QUESTION
As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, have you or has anyone in your household been asked to work from home?
QUESTION
As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, have you or has anyone in your household owned or worked at a business that has closed?
QUESTION
As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, have you or has anyone in your household been furloughed?
QUESTION
As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, have you or has anyone in your household lost a job?
QUESTION
As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, have you or has anyone in your household experienced a cut in pay (but remained employed)?
QUESTION
As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, have you or has anyone in your household experienced a reduction in hours worked (but remained employed)?
QUESTION
How confident are you that your job will be there when the coronavirus pandemic ends?
IMPACT ON BEHAVIOR – NOW & IN THE FUTURE
Consumers are concerned and confused. Some changes in behavior caused by the coronavirus will have lasting effects.
Consumers miss their old routines and want things to return to normal. They are being optimistic about the future, but they are also embracing parts of the “new normal” and realizing that this is going to take some time. Consumers want to go out to eat, but they also say they may continue to practice social distancing, cook more at home and take out rather than dine-in once the pandemic subsides. They miss going out to movies, but they also say they might be more likely to stream movies at home rather than go to the theater after the pandemic ends.
QUESTION
Thinking about some of the restrictions, cancellations and other changes that have occurred since the coronavirus outbreak, how much do you miss college or professional sports?
QUESTION
Thinking about some of the restrictions, cancellations and other changes that have occurred since the coronavirus outbreak, how much do you miss your children’s sports and activities?
QUESTION
Thinking about some of the restrictions, cancellations and other changes that have occurred since the coronavirus outbreak, how much do you miss your children being in school?
QUESTION
Thinking about some of the restrictions, cancellations and other changes that have occurred since the coronavirus outbreak, how much do you miss going out to eat?
QUESTION
Thinking about some of the restrictions, cancellations and other changes that have occurred since the coronavirus outbreak, how much do you miss getting together with friends, book clubs, Bible studies, etc.?
QUESTION
Thinking about some of the restrictions, cancellations and other changes that have occurred since the coronavirus outbreak, how much do you miss going to the gym?
QUESTION
Thinking about some of the restrictions, cancellations and other changes that have occurred since the coronavirus outbreak, how much do you miss going to work in the office?
QUESTION
Thinking about some of the restrictions, cancellations and other changes that have occurred since the coronavirus outbreak, how much do you miss going shopping (for things other than groceries)?
QUESTION
Thinking about some of the restrictions, cancellations and other changes that have occurred since the coronavirus outbreak, how much do you miss going to church/your place of worship?
QUESTION
Thinking about some of the restrictions, cancellations and other changes that have occurred since the coronavirus outbreak, how much do you miss going to a movie at a move theater?
QUESTION
How would you rate yourself when it comes to rigidly practicing social distancing?
0 = I don’t do it at all; 10 = I practice social distancing all the time
QUESTION
Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you prayed more?
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Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you spent more time with immediate family?
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Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you exercised more?
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Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you read more?
QUESTION
Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you tried new recipes?
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Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you gardened more?
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Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you done more spring cleaning/decluttering?
QUESTION
Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you washed or sanitized your hands more often?
QUESTION
Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you learned a new skill/hobby?
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Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you connected/caught up with old friends?
QUESTION
Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you practiced some form of social distancing?
QUESTION
Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue praying more?
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Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue spending more time with immediate family?
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Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue exercising more?
QUESTION
Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue reading more?
QUESTION
Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue cooking from home more and going out to eat less?
QUESTION
Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue gardening more?
QUESTION
Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue doing more spring cleaning/decluttering?
QUESTION
Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue washing or sanitizing your hands more often?
QUESTION
Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue streaming movies instead of going to the movie theater?
QUESTION
Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue working from home more?
QUESTION
Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue practicing some form of social distancing?
QUESTION
Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue wearing a mask in public places?
QUESTION
Once the pandemic ends, do you plan to continue ordering food to go instead of dining in?
Staying Informed
Consumers are more likely to feel coronavirus is not being taken seriously enough than they are to feel it’s being exaggerated.
Local TV news and the major news networks (ABC, CBS and NBC) are the primary sources for news about the coronavirus. While many consumers feel the news they hear is “fairly accurate,” many feel it is not being taken seriously enough. FOX News and posts by friends on social media are most likely to be viewed as minimizing the situation. Generally speaking, consumers have confidence in federal and state health entities.
QUESTION
Thinking about what is said about the coronavirus in the news, do you feel the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic is:
QUESTION
To what extent do you rely on the following sources to get information about the coronavirus outbreak?
Perceptions of news coming from various sources
IMPACT ON TRAVEL
Consumers are not confident they will be able to take a summer vacation.
The coronavirus pandemic is having a tremendous impact on tourism and travel. A majority of consumers say they have already canceled or postponed travel plans. Further, a majority of consumers are not confident they will be able to take a summer vacation.
QUESTION
Since the coronavirus outbreak, have you cancelled or postponed any travel plans?
QUESTION
How confident are you that you will be able to take a vacation this summer?
Impact on Education
Consumers with school-aged children want them back in school but are also concerned if going back will lead to them contracting coronavirus and therefore getting sick.
While many children – and especially their parents – have struggled to continue with education at home, there is good news to report. Most families with school-aged children say they are satisfied with the job their schools are doing with online education.
QUESTION
Do you have children under the age of 18 living in your home?
QUESTION
Does your child/do your children attend:
QUESTION
Overall, how satisfied are you with how your child’s/children’s school(s) are doing when it comes to overall communication?
QUESTION
Overall, how satisfied are you with how your child’s/children’s school(s) are doing when it comes to the quality of online learning/instruction being provided?
QUESTION
Overall, how satisfied are you with how your child’s/children’s school(s) are doing when it comes to giving the right amount of homework?
QUESTION
Overall, how satisfied are you with how your child’s/children’s school(s) are doing when it comes to feeling that your child/children is/are learning everything they need to know to be prepared for next year?
Impact on Food Consumption
The availability of groceries – both now and in the coming weeks – has many consumers concerned.
Concerns vary on several demographic and socioeconomic variables, with women, households with children and low-income households being most concerned about the availability of groceries. Consumers miss going out to eat. At the same time, they also say they may continue to practice social distancing, cook more at home and take out rather than dine-in once the pandemic subsides. As restaurants look to reopen, they need to communicate the precautions they are taking to minimize the risk of exposure.
