Results Sample Characteristics About one third of the respondents had a low, intermediate, or high educational level. Nearly half of the sample were females. Age groups were fairly similarly spread across the sample, varying from 5 to 11% per age group. The major exception was the age group from 51 to 60 years, which accounted for about one quarter of the sample. 42.9% were married or living in partnership, 33.7% were unmarried, 12.9% were divorced, and 10.6% of the respondents were widowed. On average, 1.9 persons (median: 2) lived in a household. Measures Undertaken in Germany Related to the COVID-19 Outbreak To put the results regarding individual behavior and how people change the organization of their daily live into a broader context, measures related to the COVID-19 outbreak undertaken in Germany in the time before and during the survey are described in Figure 1 and Table 1. Prior to the phase of data collection, two social distancing measures, three public health measures, two movement restriction measures, and two socio-economic measures were conducted. On the day where data collection started (16th March), five further measures were undertaken, while seven more measures were conducted during the period of data collection. Mandatory face mask wearing in public transport, during shopping, or at weekday markets were introduced after the data collection period. Protective Behavior Table 2 gives an overview of measures of protective behavior. About 88% of the respondents washed their hands more often and longer, while about 82% avoided (busy) places or reduced personal meetings and contacts. Another behavior that most respondents changed was keeping distance to other people (78.5%). These were the measures applied most often. Disinfectants were used by 58% of the sample, while about 39% adapted their school or work situation. Only 10% self-quarantined themselves although having no symptoms, 3% wore face masks and 2.3% took no measures. Table 2 Percentage of protective behavior practiced by respondents (N = 3,186, multiple answers possible). Protective behavior Answer “Yes,” % I washed my hands more often and longer 88.2 I have avoided certain (busy) places 82.3 I have reduced personal meetings and contacts 81.8 I have kept distance to other people (at least 1.5 m) 78.5 I used disinfectant 58.0 I have adapted my school or work situation 39.4 I have quarantined myself, although I have no symptoms 10.1 I was wearing face masks 3.0 I have taken none of these measures 2.3 Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Protective Behavior The results from the multiple logistic regression models are presented in Table 3. Compared to individuals with a high education, lower educated persons are less likely to avoid (busy) places (OR = 0.63; 95%CI = 0.48–0.83), to adapt their work situation (OR = 0.66; 95%CI = 0.52–0.82), to increase hand hygiene (OR = 0.53; 95%CI = 0.38–0.73), keep their distance to other people (OR = 0.71; 95%CI = 0.55–0.93), or reduce personal meetings and contacts (OR = 0.57). There is no clear association between lower education and self-quarantining without symptoms, using disinfectants, or wearing face masks. Table 3 Results from the nine multiple logistic regression models on the association of socio-demographic factors and protective behavior. Predictors I have avoided certain (busy) places I have adapted my school or work situation I washed my hands more often and longer OR 95% CI p OR 95% CI p OR 95% CI p (Intercept) 6.52 3.42–12.56 <0.001 4.42 2.62–7.52 <0.001 6.64 3.09–14.41 <0.001 Education (low) 0.63 0.48–0.83 0.001 0.66 0.52–0.82 <0.001 0.53 0.38–0.73 <0.001 Education (middle) 0.85 0.65–1.10 0.212 0.70 0.57–0.86 0.001 0.71 0.52–0.96 0.027 Female gender 1.47 1.21–1.80 <0.001 0.86 0.73–1.01 0.059 2.13 1.67–2.73 <0.001 Age 1.03 0.98–1.09 0.190 0.79 0.75–0.82 <0.001 1.05 0.99–1.12 0.105 Partnership: single 0.48 0.35–0.65 <0.001 0.67 0.52–0.86 0.002 0.50 0.34–0.72 <0.001 Partnership: divorced 1.00 0.70–1.44 0.981 1.30 1.00–1.69 0.051 0.52 0.36–0.77 0.001 Partnership: widowed 0.93 0.63–1.38 0.698 0.81 0.59–1.09 0.165 1.08 0.65–1.86 0.774 Size of household 0.88 0.75–1.04 0.122 1.02 0.89–1.17 0.740 1.10 0.90–1.34 0.361 Predictors I have kept distance to other people (at least 1.5 m) I have quarantined myself, although I have no symptoms I used disinfectant OR 95% CI p OR 95% CI p OR 95% CI p (Intercept) 2.05 1.13–3.72 0.018 0.16 0.07–0.36 <0.001 1.37 0.82–2.29 0.226 Education (low) 0.71 0.55–0.93 0.013 1.13 0.80–1.59 0.485 1.12 0.90–1.39 0.313 Education (middle) 0.64 0.51–0.81 <0.001 0.78 0.56–1.08 0.133 1.16 0.96–1.42 0.132 Female gender 1.58 1.31–1.90 <0.001 1.24 0.97–1.60 0.092 1.40 1.20–1.63 <0.001 Age 1.13 1.07–1.18 <0.001 0.91 0.85–0.97 0.004 0.92 0.88–0.96 <0.001 Partnership: single 0.63 0.47–0.85 0.002 1.30 0.88–1.93 0.195 0.89 0.70–1.14 0.356 Partnership: divorced 0.70 0.52–0.97 0.028 2.10 1.41–3.09 <0.001 0.90 0.70–1.17 0.431 Partnership: widowed 0.54 0.39–0.76 <0.001 1.56 0.97–2.44 0.059 0.79 0.60–1.03 0.078 Size of household 1.08 0.93–1.26 0.307 0.94 0.76–1.15 0.529 1.22 1.07–1.39 0.003 Predictors I have reduced personal meetings and contacts I was wearing face masks I have taken none of these measures OR 95% CI p OR 95% CI p OR 95% CI p (Intercept) 1.76 0.94–3.31 0.078 0.02 0.00–0.10 <0.001 0.02 0.00–0.12 <0.001 Education (low) 0.57 0.43–0.75 <0.001 1.28 0.67–2.47 0.459 2.03 1.03–4.08 0.044 Education (middle) 0.75 0.58–0.97 0.027 1.41 0.79–2.58 0.256 0.77 0.35–1.65 0.511 Female gender 1.70 1.40–2.08 <0.001 1.01 0.65–1.57 0.950 0.49 0.28–0.83 0.010 Age 1.15 1.09–1.21 <0.001 1.03 0.92–1.16 0.621 0.97 0.85–1.10 0.624 Partnership: single 0.78 0.58–1.06 0.118 0.66 0.31–1.38 0.278 1.14 0.51–2.50 0.742 Partnership: divorced 0.71 0.52–0.99 0.040 1.37 0.71–2.54 0.332 0.96 0.36–2.25 0.933 Partnership: widowed 0.89 0.60–1.33 0.544 0.48 0.17–1.14 0.125 1.15 0.40–2.82 0.777 Size of household 1.15 0.98–1.35 0.092 1.01 0.68–1.48 0.958 1.12 0.74–1.70 0.585 Shown are odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) and p-value (p) (N = 3,186). Significant p-values (p < 0.05) in bold. Female participants are more likely to avoid (busy) places (OR = 1.47; 95%CI = 1.21–1.80), increase hand hygiene (OR = 2.13; 95%CI = 1.67–2.73), keep their distance to other people (OR = 1.58; 95%CI = 1.31–1.90), use disinfectants (OR = 1.40; 95%CI = 1.20–1.63), or reduce personal meetings and contacts (OR = 1.70; 95%CI = 1.40–2.08). Compared to male participants, female respondents are less likely to adapt their work situation (OR = 0.86; 95%CI = 0.73–1.01) and more likely to self-quarantine (although having no symptoms, OR = 1.24; 95%CI = 0.97–1.60). However, evidence for these associations is less pronounced due to missing statistical significance. Age shows inconsistent patterns across the nine different behavior change outcomes. Older persons are less likely to have adapted their work situation (OR = 0.79; 95%CI = 0.75–0.82), to self-quarantine (OR = 0.91; 95%CI = 0.85–0.97) or to use disinfectants (OR = 0.92; 95%CI = 0.88–0.96). Probability of behavior change increased with older age for keeping distance to other people (OR = 1.13; 95%CI = 1.07–1.18) and reducing personal meetings and contacts (OR = 1.15; 95%CI = 1.09–1.21). No clear associations were found related to the measures avoiding (busy) places, increased hand hygiene, and wearing face masks. Compared to persons living in partnership, single persons were less likely to avoid (busy) places (OR = 0.48; 95%CI = 0.35–0.65) or to adapt their work situation (OR = 0.67; 95%CI = 0.52–0.86). The odds for both single and divorced persons were lower for hand hygiene (OR = 0.50; 95%CI = 0.34–0.72 and OR = 0.52; 95%CI = 0.36–0.77) and to keep distance to other people (OR = 0.63; 95%CI = 0.47–0.85 and OR = 0.70; 95%CI = 0.52–0.97). Divorced persons were more likely to self-quarantine although not having symptoms (OR = 2.10; 95%CI = 1.41–3.09) and less likely to reduce personal contacts and meetings (OR = 0.71; 95%CI = 0.52–0.99). For most behavioral change outcomes, we found no clear association with the size of the household. The only statistically significant relation was found for using disinfectants (OR = 1.22; 95%CI = 1.07–1.39). Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Taking no Protective Behavior Lower education is associated with higher odds of taking no measures at all (OR = 2.03; 95%CI = 1.03–4.08). The odds of taking no measure at all are considerably lower for female persons (OR = 0.49; 95%CI = 0.28–0.83), as compared to male persons. We found no clear evidence in our data for or against taking no measures regarding participants' age (OR = 0.97; 95%CI = 0.85–1.10). The same holds true for the different types of partnership status as well as household size.