Mount Sinai South Nassau ‘Truth in Medicine’ Poll: An Overwhelming Majority of New Yorkers Believe Their Fellow Citizens Are ‘Basically Good’

Running Out of Money and Time Are Concerns; Only a Quarter Expect Politics to Impact Holiday Gatherings

Despite their reputation for being grumpy, and headlines often dominated by crime-related news, an overwhelming majority of New Yorkers believe that most of their fellow citizens are “basically good” and less than a quarter expect political divisions to interfere with their holiday gatherings, according to the latest results of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s “Truth in Medicine” poll, sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union.

Some 75 percent of respondents to the hospital’s poll said most people are basically good while only 20 percent believe most people are “basically selfish.” And only 24 percent said they expect political divisions to impact their holiday gatherings this year, with 61 percent saying politics would not intrude on their celebrations.

But other holiday-related issues give cause for anxiety.

Making ends meet during the holidays is the leading concern of 38 percent of poll respondents, followed by gaining weight and “not enough time to get things done,” both at 23 percent.

When asked specifically about their health concerns during the holidays, 63 percent of respondents said they were “concerned about getting sick with COVID-19 or flu.”

The perennial issue of weight gain during the holidays also looms large as Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s approach, with 55 percent of respondents saying they were “very concerned” or

“concerned” about gaining weight. Additionally, 17 percent of respondents said they were “very concerned,” and 43 percent “concerned,” about experiencing stress or another mental health issue.

Despite the burden of these concerns, just like the residents of Whoville in the “Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” 63 percent of respondents will stick to their plans to celebrate the holidays just as they have planned.

“It is encouraging at this time of year to find that most New Yorkers and Long Islanders are optimistic about their neighbors,” said Adhi Sharma, MD, President of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “The holiday season is a reminder of the good within all of us and fulfills the promise of perpetual hope, generosity, and joy. Remaining optimistic is a good start on the road to improved health.”

“One of the best ways to stay healthy is to stay up to date on your flu and COVID-19 vaccines,” added Aaron Glatt, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau. “Both the flu and COVID-19 remain major causes of serious illness and hospitalization. The vaccines can help you from getting seriously ill.”

The hospital’s Truth in Medicine Poll aims to gather data about public attitudes on key public health topics and spur education and discussion. The latest poll was conducted from Wednesday, December 11, through Tuesday, December 17, via both landlines and cell phones, with 600 Long Island and New York City adults ages 18-65 and above. Poll findings are subject to a sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percent.

Overall, 60 percent are specifically concerned about stress or other mental health issues around the holidays. Finances are the primary cause of stress and mental health issues. Worries about money also cause 29 percent of respondents to go to work sick. Hispanic respondents reported being particularly strapped this holiday season.

Other poll findings include:

• 45 percent say they have been unable to buy all they need at the grocery store at least once this year.
  
• 23 percent have run out of food and not had enough money to buy more.
  
• Six percent of respondents have often sought help from a food pantry.
  
• Gaining weight is the top concern among women under 50.
  

A majority of respondents are concerned about getting COVID-19 or flu and many respondents have taken action to reduce their risk of getting sick. At the time the poll was conducted, 58 percent of respondents said they had received a flu shot, while 49 percent had received the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Those most concerned with getting COVID-19 or the flu are Hispanics and women, particularly women over 50.

If you’re eligible and haven’t been vaccinated for COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or pneumococcal disease (caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, which can cause pneumonia), now is a good time to do it, Dr. Glatt said.

“Individuals who are especially vulnerable and have not recently had COVID-19 and/or received one of the 2023 or 2024 booster shots should get the new vaccine for enhanced protection from getting a severe case of the disease,” he added.

Getting the vaccines is as simple as calling your doctor, visiting your local drugstore, or scheduling an appointment with Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Vaxmobile. To schedule an appointment, visit www.southnassau.org/sn/vaxmobile. For more information, call the hospital’s Community Education Department at 516-377-5333.

To alleviate the stress and pressure caused by a lack of time, loneliness, travel, and expenses, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Administrative Director of Behavioral Health, Michele Lucero, PsyD, advises:

1. Each day, make a realistic to-do list to prioritize tasks.
   
2. Exercise regularly, which can reduce irritability and anxiety.
   
3. Listen to soothing music to foster a sense of calm.
   
4. Be flexible: not everything must go according to plan.
   
5. If you find yourself consistently feeling sad, anxious, hopeless, or helpless, see a mental health professional or your physician.
   

“We are proud to be a partner of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s mission to provide you with health information and awareness education so that you and your family experience good health and quality time spent with loved ones and friends throughout the holiday season and 365 days a year,” said Linda Armyn, Chief Executive Officer of Bethpage Federal Credit Union.

This is Mount Sinai South Nassau’s 20th “Truth in Medicine” Poll and the third of 2024. The poll seeks to evaluate public knowledge and sentiment of key public health issues. The poll is a component of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s mission of improving education around critical public health issues.

The poll was conducted by a nationally recognized, independent polling firm, LJR Custom Strategies, with offices in Washington and New Orleans. LJR has conducted more than 2,000 studies for a broad spectrum of health care, business, education, cultural, and political clients in nearly every state in the country and around the world.

Mount Sinai South Nassau began conducting the public health poll in January 2017. Previous polls have focused on cell phone use in schools, mental health services, holiday stress, the human papilloma virus vaccine, legalization of recreational marijuana, supplements, antibiotic use and misuse, and screen time, among others. For more information about the polls, visit www.southnassau.org/sn/truth-in-medicine.

About Mount Sinai South Nassau
The Long Island flagship hospital of the Mount Sinai Health System, Mount Sinai South Nassau is designated a Magnet® hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for outstanding nursing care. Mount Sinai South Nassau is one of the region’s largest hospitals, with 455 beds, more than nine hundred physicians and 3,500 employees. Located in Oceanside, New York, the hospital is an acute-care, not-for-profit teaching hospital that provides state-of-the-art care in cardiac, oncologic, orthopedic, bariatric, pain management, mental health, and emergency services and operates the only Trauma Center on the South Shore of Nassau County, along with Long Island’s only free-standing Emergency Department in Long Beach.

In addition to its extensive outpatient specialty centers, Mount Sinai South Nassau provides emergency and elective angioplasty, and offers Novalis Tx™ and Gamma Knife® radiosurgery technologies. Mount Sinai South Nassau operates the only Trauma Center on the South Shore of Nassau County verified by the American College of Surgeons as well as Long Island’s only free-standing, 9-1-1 receiving Emergency Department in Long Beach. Mount Sinai South Nassau also is a designated Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health and Comprehensive Community Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons; is an accredited center of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Association and Quality Improvement Program; and an Infectious Diseases Society of America Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence. For more information, go to www.mountsinai.org/southnassau.