Toward Next Generation Data on Health and Life Changes at Older Ages: Administrative Supplement to track the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on American families

Abstract: This administrative supplement proposes to continue a high-frequency longitudinal survey ofAmericans' experiences and behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. The longitudinal surveywas started on March 10. The survey will be conducted of respondents to the UnderstandingAmerica Study (UAS), a probability-based panel of 8,500 adults representing the entire UnitedStates. Housed in the Center for Economic and Social Research, at the University of SouthernCalifornia, the UAS employs an 'Internet Panel,' in which respondents answer surveys on acomputer, tablet, or smart phone, wherever they are and whenever they wish to participate.Respondents are recruited through Address Based Sampling and receive a tablet and broadbandInternet subscription if needed, thus facilitating coverage of the entire adult population 18 andover in the U.S. The set-up allows for an immediate and efficient transmission of data, which arequickly made publicly available through its online platformWe will invite 7,000 UAS respondents to answer bi-weekly surveys (500 every day) through therest of the year. We will report moving weekly averages that will be updated every night byincorporating the newest batch of responses. Thus, results will be based on a rotating sample ofresponses. Importantly, since the same respondents will be answering every other week, we willbe able to track changes with much more accuracy than when one would draw new samplesevery week. Updated results will be posted on the UAS web-site every night.A questionnaire will measure (a) perceptions of coronavirus risk, (b) individual preventionbehaviors, including use of a face mask, hand hygiene, avoidance of health facilities, and otherforms of social distancing, (c) consumption of coronavirus information from various sources, (d)effects on the household's financial situation and their consequences for physical and mentalhealth, health care, psychological distress and substance use, and (e) coping behavior ofhouseholds.