Abstract
BackgroundThere is increasing evidence of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant shutdowns on mental health. This issue may be of particular concern to those affected by intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from a California state-representative online survey conducted in the two weeks following the state stay-at-home order, enacted March 19, 2020 (unweighted N = 2081). We conducted a series of multivariate multinomial logistic regressions to assess the associations between a) time since stay-at-home order and b) partner and sexual violence exposure ever with our outcomes of interest: depression and/or anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks. Covariates included demographics and social support.FindingsNearly one in five (19•7%) respondents reported moderate or severe mental health symptoms in the past two weeks; 15•5% had a history of IPV and 10•1% had a history of sexual violence. In models adjusting for gender, partner and sexual violence history, and other demographics, time was significantly associated with greater mental health symptom severity, as were IPV and sexual violence. When we additionally adjusted for current social support, effects of time were lost and effects related to violence were slightly attenuated.InterpretationTime under shutdown is associated with higher odds of depression and anxiety symptoms, and may be worse for those with a history of IPV. However, those with greater social support appear to have better capacity to withstand the mental health impacts of the pandemic. Social support programs, inclusive of those available virtually, may offer an important opportunity to help address increased mental health concerns we are seeing under the pandemic.FundingBlue Shield Foundation of California Grant RP-1907–137. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation OPP1179208.
Highlights
Global evidence documents the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant government-enforced social distancing efforts, the issues of depression and anxiety [1]
Our survey was initiated on March 19th, coinciding with the California state-wide stay at home order, and ended on March 27th, allowing unique insight into potential effect of the pandemic on mental health
Half of participants (535%) were in the normal range on our mental health outcome; 268% reported mild symptoms of depression and/or anxiety; 125% reported moderate symptoms; and 72% reported severe symptoms, in the past two weeks. (See Table 1.) We found that 155% and 101% of the sample reported a history of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence ever, respectively
Summary
Global evidence documents the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant government-enforced social distancing efforts, the issues of depression and anxiety [1] This issue may be of particular concern to those affected by intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence, given the impact of these on mental health [2]. There is increasing evidence of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant shutdowns on mental health This issue may be of particular concern to those affected by intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence. Interpretation: Time under shutdown is associated with higher odds of depression and anxiety symptoms, and may be worse for those with a history of IPV Those with greater social support appear to have better capacity to withstand the mental health impacts of the pandemic.
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