Predictors of Change in Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cross-sectional data suggest that depression, anxiety, and stress have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, longitudinal research is needed to test changes in mental health and determine factors that contribute to change. The purpose of this study was to compare anxiety, depression, and stress pre-pandemic to during the pandemic within the same sample and identify predictors of change (i.e., disease threat, changes to daily life, social isolation, financial worries).

Three national samples of U.S. adults were recruited through an online platform (Amazon's Mechanical Turk). Participants completed online surveys pre-pandemic (September - December 2019) and during the pandemic(April - June 2020).

Across the three samples, mini-meta analyses revealed significant increases in anxiety and stress (Cohen's ds = 0.17, 0.16, respectively; ps < 0.01). Financial concern and effects of COVID-19 on daily life predicted higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress during the pandemic across all three samples (ds = 0.24, 0.40, and 0.40, respectively; ps < 0.001).

Response rates for follow-up surveys were relatively low, with some noted differences between those who did and did not complete both surveys.

Significant increases in anxiety and stress were observed across three samples of U.S. adults from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial concern and effects of the pandemic on daily life emerged as the most consistent predictors of psychological distress across these samples.