Full Citation

Title: Analyzing the Demographic, Spatial, and Temporal Factors Influencing Social Contact Patterns in the U.S. and Implications for Infectious Disease Spread

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2020

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI:

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: Background: We know diseases such as the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) are spread through social contact. Moreover, interventions to control social contacts such as stay-home orders are required to stop disease spread in pandemics for which vaccines have not yet been developed. However, existing data on social contact patterns in the United States (U.S.) is limited. Method: Consequently, we use American Time Use Survey data from 2003-2018 to describe and quantify the number and duration of social contacts occurring at home and in nonhousehold locations. For household locations we also estimate age contact matrices (who spends time with whom by age). This is the first study to describe variation in U.S. social contact patterns across space, time, and based on demographic characteristics. Findings: We find that gender differences in social contact patterns exist. In the home, they appear to be driven by caretaking responsibilities. Non-Hispanic Blacks have a shorter duration and fewer social contacts than non-Hispanic Whites. However, they are more likely to work in jobs that require close physical proximity, therefore the nature of their contacts is riskier. Hispanics have the highest number of household contacts and are also more likely to work in jobs requiring close physical proximity compared to non-Hispanic whites. Seasonal differences in contact patterns are not large; they appear to be driven by the school term and therefore are chiefly present in school-aged respondents. Consequently, if the main mechanism driving infectious disease seasonality is seasonality in contact patterns, then we should not expect to see large seasonal differences in disease incidence when the young are not very susceptible or infectious. Spatial differences in contact patterns are small. Conclusion: In addition to age, demographic characteristics, particularly race and ethnicity and gender, are associated with differences in social contact patterns. In contrast, seasonal differences seem to be associated with school participation and therefore less consequential for older respondents.

Url: https://assets.ipums.org/_files/mpc/wp2020-05.pdf

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Dorelien, Audrey; Ramen, Aparna; Swanson, Isabella

Series Title:

Publication Number: 2020-05

Institution: University of Minnesota

Pages:

Publisher Location:

Data Collections: IPUMS Time Use - ATUS

Topics: Gender, Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Other, Race and Ethnicity, Work, Family, and Time

Countries: