1. Role of social determinants in anxiety and depression symptoms during COVID-19: A longitudinal study of adults in North Carolina and Massachusetts.
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Alegría, Margarita, Cruz-Gonzalez, Mario, O'Malley, Isabel Shaheen, Alvarez, Kiara, Stein, Gabriela Livas, Fuentes, Larimar, Eddington, Kari, Poindexter, Claire, Markle, Sheri Lapatin, Thorndike, Anne N., Zhang, Lulu, and Shrout, Patrick E.
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MENTAL depression , *SOCIAL anxiety , *COVID-19 , *FOOD security , *COVID-19 pandemic , *SOCIAL determinants of health - Abstract
Trajectory studies of the COVID-19 pandemic have described patterns of symptoms over time. Yet, few have examined whether social determinants of health predict the progression of depression and anxiety symptoms during COVID-19 or identified which social determinants worsen symptom trajectories. Using a racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse sample of adults participating in a randomized clinical trial with pre-existing moderate to severe depression and/or anxiety symptoms, we compare symptom patterns before and during COVID-19; characterize symptom trajectories over a 20-week follow-up period; and evaluate whether social determinants are associated with within- and between- person differences in symptom trajectories. Data were collected before and during COVID-19 in Massachusetts and North Carolina. On average, depression and anxiety symptoms did not seem to worsen during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. During COVID-19, anxiety scores at follow-up were higher for participants with baseline food insecurity (vs no food insecurity). Depression scores at follow-up were higher for participants with food insecurity and for those with utilities insecurity (vs no insecurity). Participants with child or family care responsibilities at baseline had depression symptoms decreasing at a slower rate than those without these responsibilities. We discuss the important implications of these findings. • In a sample of adults with pre-existing anxiety or depression, symptoms generally did not worsen during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Anxiety and depression at 20-week follow-up were higher for people with baseline food insecurity (vs no food insecurity). • Depression at 20-week follow-up was higher for people with baseline utilities insecurity (vs no utilities insecurity). • Trouble with childcare or family care at baseline predicted slower improvement in depression symptoms over the 20-week period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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