A longitudinal study of psychological distress in the United States before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused financial stress and disrupted daily life more quickly than any prior economic downturn and on a scale beyond any prior natural disaster. This study aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on psychological distress and identify vulnerable groups using longitudinal data to account for pre-pandemic mental health status. Clinically significant psychological distress was assessed with the Kessler-6 in a national probability sample of adults in the United States at two time points, February 2019 (T1) and May 2020 (T2). To identify increases in distress, psychological distress during the worst month of the past year at T1 was compared with psychological distress over the past 30-days at T2. Survey adjusted logistic regression was used to estimate associations

SUBMITTER: Breslau J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9753596 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature