Our COVID-19 surveys from previous months were mainly geared towards adults of all ages. But in August, we honed in on survey respondents from three generations: Millennials (24 to 39), Generation X (40 to 55), and Baby Boomers (56 to 74).
So let’s see how these groups feel about some of the current issues surrounding the pandemic, such as telemedicine usage, financial insecurity, and the digital landscape.
Our COVID-19 multigenerational survey revealed some similar patterns among all three age groups, and of course, some differences. For starters, 71% of millennials, GenXers, and Baby Boomers alike have spent more time scrolling through their phones and computers since the pandemic.
But here’s the catch: all that scrolling has led to an online overload - especially among millennials - as more than half of those surveyed confess to needing a digital detox.
But while some of our survey respondents want a break from their digital lives on Facebook and Instagram, to name a few, many are finding comfort in the virtual world of telemedicine.
Across all age groups, 60% are more comfortable seeing a virtual doctor than they were six months ago. And this was especially true among our GenX respondents.
One of the standout issues that our millennial, GenX, and Baby Boomer respondents each agree on is that they feel the U.S. healthcare system is broken. According to our August 2020 survey, roughly 8 in 10 of our respondents shared this sentiment - a survey finding that was also featured in healthexec.com.
With that said, avoiding medical care due to costs remains an ongoing issue across all three generations. But as noted by HomeCare Magazine, millennials face the most financial insecurity - 52% put off medical treatment, while another 60% say they’ve felt the financial strain of the Coronavirus pandemic. But among the three generations, Boomers were the least financially impacted.
Though financial concerns during the coronavirus pandemic was a top issue among our millennial respondents, they ironically reported the highest percentage of online shopping during lockdown mandates.
In fact, Consumer Daily Electronics reported that 76% of millennials did more online shopping during COVID-19, compared to 73% of GenXers and 67% of Baby Boomers.
Whether it’s COVID-19 vaccinations or wearing a face mask, our multigenerational survey respondents also kept staying safe and taking health precautions as a top priority.
Nearly 70% of respondents from all age groups say they’ll get a coronavirus vaccine once it becomes available. And when it comes to preventing the spread of the virus, 41% believe that wearing a mask is the best way to do so.
Meanwhile, roughly 9 in 10 respondents across all three generations are comfortable getting their temperatures checked before entering an establishment.
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