Political Polarization During Disease Outbreaks: A Meta-Analysis of Archival Survey Data From Polio to COVID-19

Objectives. To assess how political polarization during COVID-19 compares with that in past disease outbreaks in the United States. Methods. Using random-effects meta-analyses and mixed-effects meta-regressions, we searched the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research and estimated the association between polarization during COVID-19 and during non-COVID-19 disease outbreaks. Results. The study included 170 polls spanning 13 outbreaks over nearly 70 years. Polarization durin