Abstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant mental health impact in the United States of America and around the world. Objective: To assess some of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of U.S. adult population, as well as the relationship between the average number of new COVID-19 cases and the average frequency of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and anxiety or depression between April 23 and October 26, 2020. Materials and methods: Retrospective study. Psychosocial and demographic data were obtained from the Household Pulse Survey community-based website. Data about the number of new COVID-19 cases detected in the USA during the study period were taken from the Our World in Data website. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the strength of the relationships between the average of new COVID-19 cases during the study period and the average frequency of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and anxiety or depression. These correlations were also assessed in a subgroup analysis (sex, age group, education level, and ethnicity). Results: A total of 1 351 911 U.S. adults completed the survey. The average rates of depression, anxiety, and anxiety or depression symptoms were 25.7±1.6%, 31.9±2.0%, and 36.8±2.0%, respectively. The average number of new COVID-19 cases was positively correlated with the mean frequency of anxiety, depression, and anxiety or depression symptoms (r=0.858, r=0.710, and r=0.887; p<0.001). Likewise, positive correlations between the average number of new cases and the mean frequency of anxiety or depressive symptoms were found in the subgroups (r=0.484-0.917). Conclusions: According to our findings, the number of new COVID-19 cases detected during the study period in the USA was positively correlated with the frequency of anxiety or depression symptoms in the participants, that is, as the number of new cases increased, so did the frequency of the symptoms associated with these mental disorders.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious mental health impact in the United States of America, as well as all over the world
According to our results, the number of new COVID-19 cases detected during the study period in United States of America (USA) was positively correlated with the frequency of anxiety or depression symptoms in the participants, that is, as the number of new cases increased, so did the frequency of the
Psychosocial and demographic data were obtained from the community-based Household Pulse Survey, an online survey conducted by US Census Bureau, along with many other federal institutions, to determine in real time how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected households across the country from a social and economic perspective; this questionnaire was sent to chosen participants via an invitation sent by e-mail or text message on several occasions between April 23 and October 26, 2020.18 On the other hand, data about the new COVID-19 cases detected in the country during the study period (April 23-October 26) were obtained from the Our World in a
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious mental health impact in the United States of America, as well as all over the world. On January 31, the outbreak was officially declared a public health emergency and restrictions on flights coming from China to USA were imposed.[6] the new virus rapidly spread in the country and the number of COVID-19 cases steadily increased throughout March and April, with major outbreaks taking place in large urban areas such as New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Detroit, and New Orleans.[7,8] During these months and in order to slow down the spread of the virus, the authorities of some states, including cities and counties, in particular California, implemented control measures such as mandatory quarantine periods and human mobility restrictions where citizens asked to stay home except to go to an essential job or to shop for essential needs.[9]
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