1 in 3 adults are depressed or anxious due to COVID-19

One in three adults are experiencing anxiety and depression related to COVID-19, a new study shows.

The finding is particularly true for women, younger adults, and those of lower socioeconomic status, the researchers report.

COVID-19 continues to pose serious threats to public health worldwide, and interventions such as lockdowns, quarantine, and social distancing are having an adverse impact on mental well-being.

The pandemic has escalated the burden of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and insomnia. However, factors associated with increased susceptibility to psychological distress among adults in the general population during COVID-19 are not yet well known.

“Understanding these factors is crucial for designing preventive programs and mental health resource planning during the rapidly evolving COVID-19 outbreak,” says lead author Tazeen Jafar, professor in the Health Services and Systems Research Programme at Duke-NUS, who led the study. “These factors could be used to identify populations at high risk of psychological distress so they can be offered targeted remote and in-person interventions.”

For the study, published in PLOS ONE, the researchers performed a meta-analysis of 68 studies conducted during the pandemic, that included 288,830 participants from 19 countries, to assess risk factors associated with anxiety and depression.

They found that, among the people most affected by COVID-19-related anxiety or depression, women, younger adults, individuals of lower socioeconomic status, those living in rural areas, and those at high risk of COVID-19 infection are more likely to experience psychological distress.

The finding that women are more likely to experience psychological distress than men is consistent with other global studies that have shown that anxiety and depression are more common in women.

“The lower social status of women and less preferential access to healthcare compared to men could potentially be responsible for the exaggerated adverse psychosocial impact on women,” the researchers suggest. “Thus, outreach programs for mental health services must target women proactively.”

Younger adults, aged 35 and under, were more likely to experience psychological distress than those over the age of 35. Although the reasons for this are unclear, previous studies have suggested that it might be due to younger people’s greater access to COVID-19 information through the media. The study also confirms that longer media exposure was associated with higher odds of anxiety and depression.

Other factors associated with psychological distress included living in rural areas; lower education, lower income, or unemployment; and being at high risk of COVID-19 infection. Having stronger family and social support and using positive coping strategies reduced the risk of psychological distress.

“The general public and healthcare professionals need to be aware of the high burden of psychological distress during the pandemic as well as education on coping strategies,” Jafar says. “Patients need to be encouraged to seek help, and access mental health counseling services with appropriate referrals.”

“Even with the tremendous advances on the vaccine front, the world has come to realize that the COVID-19 pandemic will be with us for the long haul,” says Patrick Casey, professor and senior vice-dean for research. “Professor Jafar’s study contributes valuable insights on the pandemic’s psychological toll on populations around the world and highlights specific groups who may benefit from additional support, whether that is from their family or a healthcare provider.”