Social polarization and behavioral intentions during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Social polarization and behavioral intentions during the COVID-19 Pandemic (SPBICOVID) The SPBICOVID dataset addresses a critical research question: Are there modifiable factors associated with attitudes toward violent radicalization and COVID-19-related behavioral intentions? By including questions about experiences of adversity, beliefs in conspiracy theories, time spent online, support for violence, and levels of social connection, this dataset aims to inform multisectoral collaborations and guide program design to increase receptiveness to public health interventions, reduce social polarization, and better understand the interplay between psychosocial risk factors and maladaptive behaviors. Data Collection and Processing: Data was collected between January and March 2023 using a Qualtrics research panel service. The sample was designed to be representative of the Northeastern region of the United States. The survey was disseminated in English to participants (n=999) between the ages of 18-40 years old in New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont). The survey topics include demographic information, experiences with discrimination, bullying, acts of violence, COVID-19 exposure, perspectives on COVID-19 and vaccine conspiracy, social media use, social polarization, depression and anxiety, and support for violent radicalization and future orientation. Responses were anonymized and cleaned by Qualtrics to ensure all respondents answered the survey questions thoughtfully. The dataset was further cleaned by the research team to standardize qualitative responses for analyses.