Levels and predictors of depression, anxiety, and social isolation during COVID-19 in the united states

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has high infectivity rates, impelling people across the globe to make and sustain substantial behavioral changes As a result, many individuals developed concerns regarding their mental well-being This study aimed to determine levels and predictors of depression, anxiety, and social isolation during COVID-19 in the United States Methods: We examined demographic, physical health, and COVID-19 psychological and physical exposure predictors of mental health in 260 U S adults who completed online questionnaires from May 05 through September 28, 2020 Depression, anxiety, and social isolation were measured using PROMIS computer adaptive tests which allows comparison of mean levels in this sample to normative levels Results: Mean depression (M=57 1, SD=7 9) and anxiety (M=60 0, SD=7 8) were elevated relative to general population norms (M=50, SD=10), and social isolation (M=53 1, SD=8 3) was only slightly higher than normative levels (M=50, SD=10) These values suggest that participants had mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety Social isolation remained within normal limits Over time, depression levels increased but anxiety and social isolation remained steady Univariate linear regressions for each outcome indicated that younger age, being negatively financially impacted by COVID-19, and having difficulty getting basic resources predicted higher levels of depression, anxiety, and social isolation Participants who consumed 3 or more hours of media focused on COVID-19 also reported significantly increased anxiety and depression Participants who were married or partnered had significantly lower levels of social isolation All findings remained statistically significant in multivariate regression models examining all predictors simultaneously Conclusion: By identifying individuals at risk for poorer mental health during a pandemic, these findings offer guidance for how best to target interventions that help individuals maintain their psychological well-being in the face of an ongoing global pandemic