Young adults responded well to their generation’s first major health epidemic – the 2009-2010swine flu epidemic – according to a new survey of thirtysomethings.
The Generation X Report examined how Americans -- aged 36 to 39 -- kept updated on the news and the steps they took to protect themselves.
Researchers found, overall, about one in five Generation Xers got the swine-flu vaccine during the 2009-2010 pandemic. Those with more education, and those who knew the most about influenza in particular, tended to be more likely to vaccinated against H1N1, they added.
About 53 percent of those asked whether the vaccine is safe answered “probably true” or “definitely true.”
About 65 percent were at least moderately concerned about the flu, and nearly 60 percent said they were following the issue very or moderately closely.
“These results suggest that young adults in Generation X did reasonably well in their first encounter with a major epidemic,” says Jon D. Miller, author of the report. “Those with minor children at home were at the greatest risk, and they responded accordingly, with higher levels of awareness and concern.”
According to Miller, understanding Generation X reactions to this recent threat may help public health officials deal more effectively with future epidemics.
The findings were based on a survey of approximately 3,000 young adults during the H1N1 influenza epidemic – the first serious infectious disease this group had ever experienced.
Other findings:
• Young adults with minor children at home were most likely to follow the news about influenza closely and were most concerned about the swine flu epidemic.
• Young adults were most likely to report getting information about the epidemic from friends, co-workers and family members. In the month before the survey, they reported having about nine such conversations, compared to getting news about the flu less than three times via print or broadcast media, and about five times from searching the internet.
• The most trusted sources of information about the influenza epidemic were physicians, followed by the National Institutes of Health, pharmacists at local drug stores, and nurses from county health departments. The least trusted sources were YouTube videos, drug company commercials, and Wikipedia articles.