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Conservatism and infrequent mask usage: A study of US counties during the novel coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic

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  • Kelsey E. Gonzalez
  • Rina James
  • Eric T. Bjorklund
  • Terrence D. Hill

Abstract

Objective Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eventually recommended wearing masks in public to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the practice has been unevenly distributed in the United States. Methods In this article, we model county‐level infrequent mask usage as a function of three pillars of conservatism: (1) Republican political leadership (percentage of votes for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election), (2) conservative Protestantism (percentage evangelical Christian), and (3) right‐wing media consumption (Google searches for Fox News). Results Our analyses indicate that mask usage tends to be lower in counties with greater support for President Trump (in majority Trump counties), counties with more evangelical Christians, and areas with greater interest in Fox News. Conclusion Given the effectiveness of masks in limiting the transmission of respiratory droplets, conservative ideological resistance to public health and recommended pandemic lifestyles may indirectly support the spread of the coronavirus.

Suggested Citation

  • Kelsey E. Gonzalez & Rina James & Eric T. Bjorklund & Terrence D. Hill, 2021. "Conservatism and infrequent mask usage: A study of US counties during the novel coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(5), pages 2368-2382, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:102:y:2021:i:5:p:2368-2382
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.13025
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. C. Douglas Swearingen & Joseph T. Ripberger, 2014. "Google Insights and U.S. Senate Elections: Does Search Traffic Provide a Valid Measure of Public Attention to Political Candidates?," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 95(3), pages 882-893, September.
    2. Christopher P. Scheitle, 2011. "Google's Insights for Search: A Note Evaluating the Use of Search Engine Data in Social Research," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 92(1), pages 285-295, March.
    3. Tomas Reyes & Nicolás Majluf & Ricardo Ibáñez, 2018. "Using Internet Search Data to Measure Changes in Social Perceptions: A Methodology and an Application," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 99(2), pages 829-845, June.
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    1. Ahmed Al-Rawi & Maliha Siddiqi & Clare Wenham & Julia Smith, 2022. "The gendered dimensions of the anti-mask and anti-lockdown movement on social media," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Alfano, Vincenzo, 2023. "God or good health? Evidence on belief in God in relation to public health during a pandemic," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    3. Małgorzata Sobol & Marcin Zajenkowski & Konrad S. Jankowski, 2022. "Religious Fundamentalism, Delusions, and Conspiracy Beliefs Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-6, August.

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