Abstract
In late 2019, the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China. Soon after, cases began to spread globally. This study aimed to examine the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the adult population in the United States. We conducted an exploratory cross-sectional study using an anonymous online survey methodology distributed to participants across 13 states. The data collected included demographical information and outcomes from validated mental health screeners (GAD-7, PHQ-9, and IES-R) to assess levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. A total of 1356 participants completed the survey. GAD-7, PHQ-9, and IES-R levels differed significantly (p < 0.05) according to age, gender, and educational level. There was also significant difference between GAD-7 level as well as IES-R level between healthcare and non-healthcare workers (p = 0.02 and p = 0.028). Overall, this study has helped to garner a better understanding of COVID-19’s impact on mental health outcomes.
Highlights
December 2019, a cluster of pneumonia cases were reported in Wuhan, China and a novel Coronavirus was eventually identified
Understanding who is at risk will allow for better allocation of funds to mental health needs
The results of this study indicate that reported levels of depression, anxiety, and stress significantly differ across many variables, suggesting that different individual characteristics may be risk factors for experiencing mental health struggles during a global pandemic
Summary
December 2019, a cluster of pneumonia cases were reported in Wuhan, China and a novel Coronavirus was eventually identified. By early March of 2020, travel restrictions were put in place, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus outbreak to be a pandemic, and the President of the United States (US) declared a national emergency (World Health Organization, 2020). It was during this time that structure and schedules were completely disrupted, and community members were faced with isolation in their homes and the closure of public services began. In the US, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the recommendation and implementation of social distancing and isolation as approaches to curb the spread of the virus. The literature has shown that sudden changes in work and home dynamics can increase the risk of the following distress reactions: changes in sleep, decreased sense of safety, physical symptoms, irritability, distraction, avoidance, and isolation (Ursano et al, 2017)
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