Financial hardship and psychological distress during and after COVID-19 lockdowns in Victoria, Australia: a secondary data analysis of four repeated state-wide surveys.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of individuals experiencing financial hardship and to examine the relationship between their experiences of financial hardship and psychological distress during and after the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Design

This is a secondary analysis of data from four repeated state-wide surveys conducted in 2020 and 2022.

Setting

Victoria, Australia.

Participants and outcome measures

All Victorian residents aged 18 years and above were eligible. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-6 Item version (K6), while financial hardship was assessed using a nine-item scale. Relationships between experiencing any form of financial hardship and experiencing high psychological distress (K6≥19)

SUBMITTER: Tran T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11931936 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature