From family disagreements on the COVID-19 vaccine to mask usage, here are this week’s top college student insights.
COVID-19 Vaccine Debates
A new College Pulse survey of 500 undergraduates finds that a majority (52%) have experienced friction with friends or family who have different opinions on the COVID-19 vaccines. About 1 in 5 (21%) students say they have experienced this with family members, 13% with friends, and 18% with both family and friends.
However, female students and white students are more likely than others to say they have run into friction surrounding vaccine opinions. Almost 6 in 10 (56%) female students say they have experienced this, compared to half (48%) of male students. Similarly, 63% of white students report experiencing friction, compared to 38% of students of color.
Have you experienced any friction with friends or family who have a different opinion on the COVID-19 vaccines than you?
Roughly one-third (32%) of vaccinated students continue to wear a mask any time they’re around people outside of their household, while 18% only wear one when it’s required by the law or a business and 6% say they never wear one. Nearly half (45%) of students fall in the middle, though, wearing a mask only when indoors or in crowded places.
“I reached my limit with that mask, especially in summer heat,” says a University of Arkansas student. “If it’s not legally/business required, I’m not gonna sit around with a face full of my own sweat.”
Among the 65 students surveyed who aren’t vaccinated, about one-quarter (27%) report never wearing a mask. One-third (33%) only wear a mask when it’s required and 27% do any time they’re around people outside of their household.
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Methodology: All surveys were designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted among a sample of full-time and part-time students attending colleges or universities in the U.S. who are part of College Pulse’s American College Student Panel.
