Hygiene habits were the main reason people washed their hands during the pandemic
Core finding
Most Americans (73%) point to personal hygiene habits as a reason they washed their hands during the pandemic, more than cite any other motivation, according to an August 2025 Verasight survey.
Nearly six-in-ten (59%) name a fear of COVID-19 infection and 47% public health advice, while fewer cite workplace or school policies (24%) or social expectations (23%). One-in-ten (10%) say no specific reason drove them.
Selected responses
Hygiene habits were the main reason people washed their hands during the pandemic.
What were your primary motivations for hand-washing during the pandemic?
n = 1,000 · Aug 13–18, 2025 · MoE ±3.1%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | United States adults |
| Field dates | Aug 13–18, 2025 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.1% |
| Module | Verasight JSM Omnibus Survey |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/jsm-2025
What were your primary motivations for hand-washing during the pandemic?
Cite this question
Verasight JSM Omnibus Survey, fielded August 13-18, 2025, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.1%.