Is Google Trends a useful tool for tracking mental and social distress during a public health emergency? A time-series analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Google Trends data are increasingly used by researchers as an indicator of population mental health, but few studies have investigated the validity of this approach during a public health emergency.

Methods

Relative search volumes (RSV) for the topics depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide, suicidal ideation, loneliness, and abuse were obtained from Google Trends. We used graphical and time-series approaches to compare daily trends in searches for these topics against population measures of these outcomes recorded using validated self-report scales (PHQ-9; GAD-7; UCLA-3) in a weekly survey (n = ~70,000) of the impact COVID-19 on psychological and social experiences in the UK population (21/03/2020 to 21/08/ 2020).

Results

Self-reported levels of depression

SUBMITTER: Knipe D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8411666 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature