Associations between local COVID-19 policies and anxiety in the USA: a longitudinal digital cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Abstract

Introduction

A lack of coordinated federal guidance led to substantial heterogeneity in local COVID-19 policies across US states and counties. Local government policies may have contributed to increases in anxiety and mental health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We analysed associations between composite policy scores for containment and closure, public health or economic support from the US COVID-19 County Policy Database and self-reported anxiety scores (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7) from COVID-19 Citizen Science participants between 22 April 2020 and 31 December 2021.

Results

In 188 976 surveys from 36 711 participants in 100 counties across 28 states, associations between anxiety and containment and closure policy differed by

SUBMITTER: Cozen AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11812870 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature