Loss during COVID-19: Moderating effects of meaning and romantic relationships on anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated experiences of loss and grief for many individuals and posed a challenging mental health crisis. Compared to studies examining a singular type of loss, the present study investigated the cumulative impacts of COVID-related losses on anxiety and depressive symptoms and examined whether meaning in life, marital status, or relationship quality offered a protective moderating role. Method: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted approximately 1 year into the pandemic among 434 diverse individuals (32.0% White; 52.1% women; M age = 34.7) in the United States. Measures included: General Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Quality of Marriage Index, and 26 loss items with corresponding grief ratings. Results: Results using linear mixed models demonstrated strong positive links between loss and both anxiety and depressive symptoms, although the association between loss and anxiety was stronger for women. The association between loss and anxiety was attenuated at high levels of meaning in life compared to average and low levels of meaning and for married individuals compared to unmarried participants. Being married also buffered the impact of loss on depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Findings indicate that cumulative pandemic-related loss is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms, and that meaning in life and romantic relationships may be promising interventional targets; though, these findings may change over the course of the pandemic. Clinical Impact StatementThis study advances our understanding about the connection between cumulative COVID-related losses and mental health symptoms and finds evidence that more losses during the pandemic were associated with more depression and anxiety. This connection is weaker for individuals who are men, have high meaning in life, or are married.