Article
Patterns and predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms within a population-based sample of adults diagnosed with COVID-19 in Michigan
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol
(2023)
Abstract
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide-ranging impacts on mental health, however, less is known about predictors of mental health outcomes among adults who have experienced a COVID-19 diagnosis. We examined the intersection of demographic, economic, and illness-related predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms within a population-based sample of adults diagnosed with COVID-19 in the U.S. state of Michigan early in the pandemic.
Methods: Data were from a population-based survey of Michigan adults who experienced a COVID-19 diagnosis prior to August 1, 2020 (N = 1087). We used weighted prevalence estimates and multinomial logistic regression to examine associations between mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and comorbid depressive/anxiety symptoms) and demographic characteristics, pandemic-associated changes in accessing basic needs (accessing food/clean water and paying important bills), self-reported COVID-19 symptom severity, and symptom duration.
Results: Relative risks for experiencing poor mental health outcomes varied by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and income. In adjusted models, experiencing a change in accessing basic needs associated with the pandemic was associated with higher relative risks for anxiety and comorbid anxiety/depressive symptoms. Worse COVID-19 symptom severity was associated with a higher burden of comorbid depressive/anxiety symptoms. "Long COVID" (symptom duration greater than 60 days) was associated with all outcomes.
Conclusion: Adults diagnosed with COVID-19 may face overlapping risk factors for poor mental health outcomes, including pandemic-associated disruptions to household and economic wellbeing, as well as factors related to COVID-19 symptom severity and duration. An integrated approach to treating depressive/anxiety symptoms among COVID-19 survivors is warranted.
Keywords
- Anxiety,
- COVID-19,
- Depression,
- Epidemiology,
- Mental health
Disciplines
Publication Date
March 14, 2023
DOI
10.1007/s00127-023-02453-9
Citation Information
Titus AR, Mezuk B, Hirschtick JL, McKane P, Elliott MR, Fleischer NL. Patterns and predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms within a population-based sample of adults diagnosed with COVID-19 in Michigan [published online ahead of print, 2023 Mar 14]. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2023;1-10. doi:10.1007/s00127-023-02453-9