In a new study, researchers found 27.8% of U.S. adults had depression symptoms as of mid-April, compared to 8.5% before the COVID-19 pandemic.
They also found that income and savings are the most dramatic predictors of depression symptoms in the time of COVID.
The study is the first nationally-representative study in the U.S. to assess the change in depression prevalence before and during COVID.
The research was conducted by a team from the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH).
The researchers used data from 5,065 respondents to the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and 1,441 respondents from the COVID-19 Life Stressors Impact on Mental Health and Well-Being (CLIMB) study.
The CLIMB study was conducted from March 31 to April 13, 2020, when 96% of the U.S. population was under stay-at-home advisories or shelter-in-place policies.
Both surveys assessed depression symptoms and gathered the same demographic data, and the 2020 survey also gathered data on COVID-related stressors including job loss, the death of a friend or loved one from COVID, and financial problems.
The researchers found an increase in depression symptoms among all demographic groups. Not surprisingly, experiencing more COVID-related stressors was a major predictor of depression symptoms.
However, the biggest demographic difference came down to money.
They found that, during COVID, someone with less than $5,000 in savings was 50% more likely to have depression symptoms than someone with more than $5,000.
People who were already at risk before COVID-19, with fewer social and economic resources, were more likely to report probable depression.
The researches hope that these findings promote creating a society where a robust safety net exists, where people have fair wages, where equitable policies and practices exist, and where families can not only live on their income but can also save money towards the future.
As COVID continues to grip the country, there may be steps that policymakers can take now to help reduce the impact of COVID-19 stressors on depression, such as eviction moratoria, providing universal health insurance that is not tied to employment, and helping people return to work safely for those able to do so.
One author of the study is Dr. Sandro Galea, Dean and Robert A. Knox Professor at BUSPH.
The study is published in JAMA Network Open.
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