Abstract
In this cross-sectional study we aimed to assess symptoms of depression and anxiety at an early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore factors predictive of these mental health outcomes. A sample of 1,503 participants, recruited from the general Swedish population, completed an online survey distributed through social media. In this sample, 22.2% reported clinically significant levels of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) and 10.9% indicated possible major depression using the PHQ-9 algorithm. Moreover, 28.3% reported clinically significant levels of anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 8) and 9.7% severe anxiety and possible GAD (GAD-7 ≥ 15). Multiple linear regression analyses identified some common predictors for both outcomes. Age, having a stable income, and sufficient social stimulation, sleep, and recovery showed negative associations, whereas worry about the economy and overall burden showed positive associations. These results suggest an impact on mental health already at an early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights
On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed about pneumonia cases of unknown cause, occurring in the city of Wuhan, China
Context dependent variables Pandemic consequences Avoidance of social contacts Duration of social avoidance Negative economic consequences Worry about economy Worry about disease Overall load/burden Life style behaviors Social stimulation Intellectual stimulation Physical activity Sleep Recovery Information and trust Time spent on information Trust in authorities
With these limitations in mind, we still believe that the current study can contribute to the ongoing exploration of mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic
Summary
On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed about pneumonia cases of unknown cause, occurring in the city of Wuhan, China. In Sweden, the first case of COVID-19 was detected in the end of January, and on March 10, the public health agency stated that there were signs of community transmission in Sweden. When this manuscript was first finalized, May 7, 2020, Sweden has almost 25, 000 confirmed cases (applying restricted testing) and over 3 000 fatalities due to COVID-19. Context dependent variables Pandemic consequences Avoidance of social contacts Duration of social avoidance Negative economic consequences Worry about economy Worry about disease Overall load/burden Life style behaviors Social stimulation Intellectual stimulation Physical activity Sleep Recovery Information and trust Time spent on information Trust in authorities.
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