Analyzing Midwest Social Contact Patterns
MADMC’s social contact survey will provide data to better inform public health responses to disease outbreaks in the Midwest. Social contact data provide information on how people interact with others and can be useful for understanding how infectious diseases spread.This data can be used in infectious disease models to provide decision makers with estimates of disease burden, including expected number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths under different disease scenarios or public health interventions. Currently, there is only social contact data available from Europe or at a national level in the U.S.
Our Work
MADMC will conduct four waves of a Midwest-focused social contact survey, staggered to capture potential seasonal changes in person-to-person contact patterns. The survey will be used to understand differences in contact patterns by age, gender, race/ethnicity, and rural/urban location. By comparing our results to findings from other Insight Net center surveys, we will determine how Midwestern contact patterns do or do not differ from other US regions. The survey will also include questions about individual willingness and ability to adopt protective measures that may be recommended in a future pandemic. Results will be used to inform disease transmission inputs in MADMC’s Infectious Disease Modeling Platform.
Infographic Description: Social Contact Survey: Autumn Opt-in Results 2025
This one-page infographic titled “Social Contact Survey: Autumn Opt-in Results 2025” from MADMC summarizes results of the survey conducted between September 15-October 13, 2025. Results were collected from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas about participants’ daily in-person social interactions / contacts.
Top highlights: 1,009 participants; average 6.9 daily contacts; median 4.
Section: “Average number of daily contacts varies across demographic groups.”
- Age: 0–10 (9.1), 10–20 (12.7, highest), 20–30 (9.2), 30–40 (7.2), 40–50 (5.4), 50–60 (4.7), 60–70 (4.2), 70–80 (2.6, lowest), 80–105 (4.3).
- Income: <$25k (5.1); $25k–$49,999 (6.9); $50k–$74,999 (4.2); $75k–$99,999 (6.0); $100k–$149,999 (7.8); $150k+ (9.4, highest). Contacts increase notably above $50k.
- Geography: Metro 7.2 vs. non-metro 6.2.
- Day of week: Weekday 6.9; weekend 6.8 (similar).
Note: Bars represent weighted mean contacts; individual contacts capped at 40.
Section: “Average Number of Contacts by Location.” Home 1.7; Work 2.0 (highest); School 1.6; Community 1.6. Text notes people attending work or school in person have the highest total contacts.
Section: “Social Contact Matrix: Who interacts with whom by age?” Heat map indicates that strongest interactions are between people of their own age, especially ages 10–19 and 20–29, with additional interactions between young adults and slightly older adults (workplace ages). Bulleted notes below emphasize non-uniform mixing, age-assortative contact, and strong peer and household interactions.
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