Stressors and Other Pandemic-related Predictors of Prospective Changes in Psychological Distress

Abstract

Background Numerous studies have documented mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Few studies included pre-pandemic levels of mental health or were comprehensive in assessing factors likely associated with longer-term mental health impacts. Methods Analyses used prospective data from a subset of participants in the nationwide Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) United States cohort (N=2,359; 1,534 women; 825 men) who completed surveys in 2018 and during the COVID-19 pandemic (July-September 2020). Logistic regressions examined associations of pandemic-related stressors, sociodemographic and other predictors with (i) overall psychological distress (PD) and depression and anxiety separately during the COVID-19 pandemic and (ii) change in PD from 2018 to during the pandemic (low/low; high to low; low to high; high/high). Findings During the pandemic, 10% of participants reported moderate-to-severe PD and almost half (42%) reported at least mild PD. Pandemic PD levels were associated with pre-pandemic PD (female OR=5.65; male OR=9.70), financial stressors (female OR=2.48; male OR=3.68), and work/life balance stressors (female OR=3.03; male OR=3.33) experienced since the pandemic began. These stressors also predicted an escalation from low PD in 2018 to high PD during the pandemic. Factors associated with high PD at both time points included younger age, female sex, and financial stressors. Interpretation These results highlight the importance of regular mental health assessment and support among those with a history of mental health problems and those experiencing pandemic-related stressors, such as those with caregiving responsibilities or job changes. Funding The American Cancer Society funds the creation, maintenance, and updating of the CPS-3.

Increase in Referrals of Children and Adolescents to the Psychiatric Emergency Room Is Evident Only in the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Evaluating 9156 Visits from 2010 through 2021 in a Single Psychiatric Emergency Room

“…The rise in the mental health needs of children and adolescents is steadily increasing. The COVID-19 pandemic, and especially its consequences, increased public awareness to mental health needs [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Short-term impact of COVID-19 on quality of life, perceived stress, and serious psychological distress in an adult population in the midwest United States

“…The mental health-related impact of the pandemic is not limited to those diagnosed with COVID-19. For example, a study of pandemic-related stressors and overall psychological distress found that nearly half of participants noted an increase in mild psychological distress regardless of COVID-19 infection, with distress prior to the pandemic, financial stressors, and work/life balance stressors all associated with higher distress during the pandemic [ 12 ]. However, evidence suggests that there is a prolonged mental health impact, including perceived stress, on individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 compared to healthy controls, with hypotheses that it is most pronounced 1–4 months after diagnosis [ 13 ].…”

Auswirkungen der COVID-Pandemie auf die Besorgtheit von Patient:innen mit funktionellen gastrointestinalen Symptomen

“…Die COVID-19-Pandemie hat Angst, Leid und Stress in der Allgemeinbevölkerung ausgelöst. Insbesondere Maßnahmen zur Eindämmung von Übertragungswegen wie häusliche Isolation, Kontaktbeschränkungen, Homeoffice, Einschränkung sozialer Aktivitäten, zunächst social dann physical distancing haben dazu beigetragen, dass die physische und psychische Gesundheit vieler Menschen abgenommen hat und sich die Versorgung und somit auch Symptomatik von Patient:innen mit chronischen Erkrankungen, insbesondere psychischen Erkrankungen, verschlechtert hat [7,8,9]. Eine Studie aus Großbritannien zeigte, dass physical distancing zu erhöhtem Auftreten von Angst-und depressiven Erkrankungen in der Allgemeinbevölkerung führt [10].…”