Professor James Druckman finds majority of unvaccinated Americans are concerned enough about COVID-19 to wear masks

In a recent survey, Professor James Druckman, of the Department of Political Science, found that while 29% of Americans are still unvaccinated, nearly two-thirds of this group are concerned enough about the spread of COVID-19 to regularly wear a mask.

“This suggests there are two distinct populations of unvaccinated. Those wearing masks who are taking the virus very seriously while the unmasked group is less clearly taking the virus as seriously,” Druckman said.

Druckman is a member of a university consortium called The COVID States Project, which includes researchers from Northwestern, Northeastern, Harvard and Rutgers. The researchers surveyed more than 21,079 individuals to better understand unvaccinated Americans who choose to wear a mask.

The survey results found:

• Unvaccinated Americans choosing to wear masks were more likely to be politically Independent (47%) than the entire sample (36%).
• African Americans (20%) are overrepresented and non-Hispanic whites (55%) are underrepresented among this group compared to their proportion in the overall population.
• Unvaccinated mask wearers tend to be younger, with 63% under the age of 45, compared to 47%, which is the proportion of U.S. population under the age of 45.
• Geographically, this group is disproportionately southern (45%) and less likely to be from the Northeast (14%).
• They are more likely to be female (58%) and lower in income and education compared to the general population.

According to Druckman, the report indicates different communication strategies are needed for those who remain unvaccinated, based on numerous factors, including whether they choose to wear masks.

“For those wearing masks it may require engaging on the science of the vaccine, while the unmasked group may require persuasion on the general personal and public health threat,” Druckman said.

Read more about the survey in Northwestern Now.