COVID-19 dimensions are related to depression and anxiety among US college students: Findings from the Healthy Minds Survey 2020

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in 2020, the United States suffered over 32 million infections, with an estimated death toll from COVID-19 of well over half a million as of April 2021. In addition to having a direct health impact through infection (the long-term effects of which are still being examined), the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically transformed how society functioned, indirectly affecting health by creating the conditions that gave rise to distressing and isolating situations (Mucci et al., 2020), experiences of discrimination (Bhanot et al., 2020), financial strain (Wilson et al., 2020), illness of loved ones and caretaker burden (Prime et al., 2020). In a review conducted during the initial phase of the pandemic showed that subsyndromal mental health problems were common (Rajkumar; 2020), particularly in the form of symptoms of depression and anxiety, with studies from around the world showing marked increases in diagnoses (e.g. Jacob et al., 2020). A longitudinal study in the UK showed that clinically significant levels of mental distress rose as the country locked down, with the largest increases detected in the 18–24 age range (Pierce et al., 2020). A meta-analysis, covering 136 studies of populations affected by COVID-19 found that at least 15–16% of the general population experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression (Cénat et al., 2020). Further, Vindegaard & Benros (2020) conducted a systematic review and found that there was a decrease in psychological well-being in the general public; however, the authors noted that more large-scale studies were needed. (author introduction) #HES4A