June 11, 2020

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fatality Risk Perception of US Adult Residents in March and April 2020

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

• Niepel et al. compared the SARS-CoV-2 fatality risk perception of US adult residents in mid-March 2020 (N=1,182) and mid-April 2020 (N=953). About 67% reported lower perceived risk than the 1% benchmark, and about 51% reported that their own odds of dying if infected were approximately one in ten thousand or lower, suggesting an underestimation of fatality risk compared to current epidemiological evidence. The authors suggest that low risk perception may predict poor adherence to health behaviors that reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission rates. 

Niepel et al. (June 10, 2020). The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fatality Risk Perception of US Adult Residents in March and April 2020. British Journal of Health Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12438