Prediction: People Will Socialize Less with Friends but Still See Family Over Holidays

 It's the most wonderful time of the year—to social distance. That's according to the latest poll from PEMCO Mutual Insurance, which shows that most Northwest residents are seeing their friends less during the 2020 holiday season. But when it comes to family functions, many residents still plan to keep plans with their relatives. 

Ahead of the holidays, the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll found that seven out of ten residents in the Seattle and Portland metro areas (72%) are seeing their friends less often as a safety measure against COVID-19.  

However, when it comes to getting together with extended family members, Northwest residents show less restraint. More than half (55%) reported that they have maintained the same number of family gatherings or have even socialized with family more since the pandemic began. Less than half (45%) say they are socializing with their relatives less.

"As much as we wish otherwise, the holiday season should look and feel different this year. All of us want to keep our loved ones safe while staying connected, but this isn't the time to ease off the gas of our vigilant preventive measures," said PEMCO spokesperson Derek Wing. "The good news is that people across Washington and Oregon have been setting great examples for following safety guidelines – let's keep up the good work through the holidays."

While many family members continue to gather, the poll found that older members are the most cautious. In the Seattle metro area, 53% of residents age 55 and older say they meet with family less, while only 37% of their younger counterparts say the same. Portland-area families are similar – 58% of older residents are staying away from gatherings, while just 36% of younger residents follow suit.

Looking ahead, nearly half of residents in the Seattle and Portland metro areas (43%) say they plan to see their friends at the same rate they did pre-pandemic, once a vaccine is widely available.

The same is generally true when it comes to socializing with family. Half of residents (50%) plan to see family members just as they did pre-pandemic after a vaccine. And for some, the pandemic may prompt them to see their loved ones more – 38% of residents in Portland and 37% in Seattle say they plan to spend even more time with their extended relatives after the coronavirus crisis comes to an end.

Surprisingly, some younger Seattle-area residents aren't as keen on socializing post-pandemic.  Almost one in four Seattle residents under 35 (23%) don't expect to socialize with friends after the pandemic and 20% of young people in Seattle feel the same toward socializing with family. 

For a complete summary of PEMCO's proprietary poll results visit www.pemco.com/blog/nw-polls, where you'll find responses collected by FBK Research of Seattle in June 2020.

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About the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll

PEMCO Mutual Insurance commissioned this independent survey, conducted by FBK Research of Seattle, that asked Washington and Oregon residents questions about driving habits and attitudes toward current Northwest issues. The sample size, 578 respondents in Washington and 427 in Oregon, yields an accuracy of +/- 4.2 and 4.8% respectively at the 95% confidence level. In other words, if this study were conducted 100 times, in 95 instances the data will not vary by more than the associated error range.

Supplemental interviews were conducted with people living in the Seattle metro area, including King, Snohomish and Pierce counties, and those in the Portland metro area, including Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah and Washington counties. The sample size, 578 respondents in the Seattle area and 509 in the Portland area, yields an accuracy of +/- 4.2% and +/- 4.4% respectively at the 95% confidence level.

About PEMCO Mutual Insurance

PEMCO Mutual Insurance is the Defender of Your Northwest, providing auto, home, renters and boat coverage. We are consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee expertise and social impact. Our Mutual Good programs raise the achievement levels for youth in education; build stronger, greener environments; and increase safety at home, on the road and at play. Our mission: Free our communities to worry less and live more.