COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO Germany) – Data of 69 surveys on pandemic attitudes, feelings and behaviours

During a pandemic, knowledge, risk perceptions, trust in institutions and attitudes towards public health measures influence protective behaviours and mental health. The COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring (COSMO) project collected psychosocial data on pandemic-related attitudes, feelings and behaviours from representative samples in Germany. In sixty-nine cross-sectional online surveys conducted between 03.03.2020 and 08.11.2022, N = 69,013 individuals were assessed. Our 332 variables show how COVID-19 was perceived (e.g., symptoms, risk perceptions), which behaviours were exhibited (e.g., mask wearing, keeping distance, being vaccinated, meeting other people), what attitudes and beliefs people held (e.g., towards vaccination, conspiracy beliefs, pandemic fatigue), which information sources they used and trusted, how their mental health was affected (e.g., worries, wellbeing, resilience) and what consequences the pandemic had for people (e.g., financial losses, alcohol consumption). Variables are available for at least five waves (i.e., roughly 5,000 participants, some for all waves). The data allow us to trace population-level changes in pandemic perceptions and actions, assess the relationships between determinants and behaviours, and help prepare for future crises.