Longitudinal changes in psychological distress in the UK from 2019 to September 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from a large nationally representative study. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Daly, Michael; Robinson, Eric
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 300(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Psychological distress -- Nationally representative study; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113920
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: COVID-19 may have a profound and enduring influence on population mental health. Few studies have tracked changes in mental health before and during the pandemic. Distress levels declined quickly after an initial rise at the start of the pandemic. Psychological distress levels returned to baseline (2019) levels by July 2020. Recovery was observed across all demographic subgroups examined. Abstract: In a large ( n =10918), national, longitudinal probability-based sample of UK adults the prevalence of clinically significant psychological distress rose from prepandemic levels of 20.8% in 2019 to 29.5% in April 2020 and then declined significantly to prepandemic levels by September (20.8%). Longitudinal analyses showed that all demographic groups examined (age, sex, race/ethnicity, income) experienced increases in distress after the onset of the pandemic followed by significant decreases. By September 2020 distress levels were indistinguishable from prepandemic levels for all groups. This recovery may reflect the influence of the easing of restrictions and psychological adaptation to the demands of the pandemic.