EarnMyDegree.com Study Shows That Flu Fears Are Influencing Lifestyle Changes
Recent Study Indicates the H1N1 Virus Is Driving Some People to Online Education
| Source: EarnMyDegree.com
HOBOKEN, NJ--(Marketwire - December 3, 2009) - One of the lasting legacies of 2009 and looming
challenges of 2010 is the H1N1 virus. Fears about contracting H1N1
(commonly known as the swine flu) have consumed many Americans for most of
the year, so EarnMyDegree.com (http://www.earnmydegree.com), a web resource
of EducationDynamics, which connects prospective students with online classes, commissioned a new
study about whether flu-related worries have caused people to change their
habits. The study found that people are taking new precautions to avoid
getting sick, from more diligent cleaning to staying at home to studying
online.
"When we asked people about what changes, if any, they are making due to
H1N1, we found that a majority (66 percent) of Americans admit they've let
the fear of the virus impact their daily life and that they have made some
changes," said Terrence Thomas, with EarnMyDegree.com.
For the majority of Americans, the primary change they've made is more
cleaning. Eighty-nine percent of those who have made changes in reaction
to H1N1 fears report they now use hand sanitizers or wash their hands more
often, and 35 percent clean their homes more frequently.
In addition to more zealous cleaning, some are altering their social
habits. The EarnMyDegree.com study found that 29 percent of those who have
changed their behaviors shake hands less often, and 16 percent are eating
out less frequently, if at all. Additionally, some say they are actually
considering online education to avoid classroom germs.
"Surprisingly, we found that six percent of people are now considering or
have already started online classes because of H1N1," continued Thomas.
"Many people don't want to take any risks and are turning to online
education to avoid potentially getting sick from classmates."
Other research findings include:
-- Four percent of those in fear of H1N1 have decided to kiss their
significant other less often.
-- Flu fears are gripping more women than men. The study shows that 71
percent of women and 60 percent of men confess they've been acting
differently because of the H1N1 epidemic. This is especially true when it
comes to keeping hands clean (91 percent of women vs. 86 percent of men)
and making sure their home is germ-free (42 percent of women vs. 27 percent
of men).
-- For homes with children, parents are certainly more cautious, with
three in four (75 percent) starting to do things differently due to the flu
threat, versus 60 percent of non-parents.
The EarnMyDegree.com Survey was conducted by Kelton Research among 1,000
nationally representative Americans ages 18 and over between November 3 and
November 10, 2009, using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas
are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the entire U.S.
population ages 18 and over.
Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of
the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and
the level of the percentages expressing the results.
In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result
does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the
result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all
persons in the universe represented by the sample.
About EarnMyDegree.com
EarnMyDegree.com, part of the
Prospecting Services Division of EducationDynamics, is a network of leading
websites that connect prospective students with colleges, universities and
online learning programs. Established in 2003, EarnMyDegree.com serves as a one-stop
directory for undergraduate and advanced degrees, as well as professional
certificates in a variety of fields from business to healthcare to
technology. EarnMyDegree.com's team
of marketing experts, designers and copywriters have a proven track record
for optimizing marketing campaign results to increase qualified leads. More
than 3 million students have been connected to the online education
programs of their choice through EarnMyDegree.com. To learn more, visit
http://www.EarnMyDegree.com.
About EducationDynamics
EducationDynamics, a portfolio company of Halyard Capital, is higher
education's leading marketing services company dedicated to helping
institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly
visible education websites, including EarnMyDegree.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, and its more than 50
special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of
qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition,
the company offers a full suite of Web-delivered services proven to drive
enrollment growth and reduce student attrition. Through its Market Research
and Advisory Services division, the company brings a decade of proprietary
research, unparalleled market and student intelligence, and best practice
insights to its clients. For more information, visit
http://www.educationdynamics.com.