Older Men Worry Less Than Others About COVID-19

A study published in the Journals of Gerontology found older men may be at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 because they worry less about catching or dying from it than their female peers or than younger people of both sexes, reports ScienceDaily . Georgia State University researchers administered a questionnaire rating COVID-19 perceptions and behavior changes. Unsurprisingly, most participants were at least moderately concerned about COVID-19, and only one individual, an older man, had "absolutely no worry at all." More than 80 percent of participants also said they were washing their hands more often, taking more care about cleanliness, no longer shaking hands, and avoiding public places. More than 60 percent also reported no longer socializing with others, and those who were most concerned about COVID-19 were the most likely to have made these changes. Yet compared to all other participants, older men were less worried about the virus and had made the fewest number of behavior changes — and were relatively less likely to have worn a mask, to report having stopped touching their faces, or to have bought extra food. "For older men, accurate perception of risk worked as well as worry to predict preventive behaviors," Georgia State's Sarah Barber concluded.